Lloyd Mandeno

Lloyd Mandeno OBE (3 October 1888 – 30 December 1973) was a New Zealand electrical engineer, inventor and local politician. He was born in Rangiaowhia, Waikato, New Zealand, on 3 October 1888.

One of his notable accomplishments was the invention and widespread use of "single wire earth-return" (SWER) grids for rural electrification in New Zealand. This form of grid uses only a single wire, and made rural electrification dramatically more affordable and commonplace. It improves the standard of living of rural families. SWER is now used in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Brazil and some parts of the United States. In New Zealand, SWER is sometimes called "Mandeno's clothesline."

In a history of WEL Networks, Mandeno, who was Chief Electrical Engineer at Frankton Power Station from 1913 to 1916, was described as having a distinguished career designing and building hydro power stations.

In the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mandeno was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to engineering.

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