The paper briefly details the evolution of control systems as applied to hydro-electric plant in the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board area over the past 20 years. Automatic control is described stressing the basic simplicity of hydro-electric plant. Remote control is treated in some depth with particular emphasis being placed on features peculiar to hydro stations. These include water level monitoring, dam gate controls and the various means of achieving communication channels. It also explains how display techniques have changed due mainly to the increasing use of VDUs. The paper also looks ahead to the types of systems which will be developed and implemented in the next 10 years. It pays particular attention to the greatly improved presentation methods that are becoming increasingly available to the operators in the control centres.