The History of Electrification:
The Birth of our Power Grid

Generation & Transmission Sites: AC and HVDC

The power grid as we know it began with isolated power generation systems across the world starting in the 1870s. The growth and unification of the systems is what we term as "Electrification of our World". Power generation and transmission over distance is the focus of this page so we will highlight some of the early important systems.

The Edison Tech Center is working to tell the story of electrification and all the great engineers that made our utility system possible. There are videos on Youtube as well as several web pages on the subject.

One of the first three phase AC generators in the world. This one was created for the Electrical Exposition in Frankfurt,Germany in 1891.

Basic terms: Dynamo - a device that generates electric power in the form of direct current Generator - a device that produces electric power in the form of alternating current Alternator - another name for a generator but can also be used to describe higher frequency AC used in radio waves Transformer - a device that uses inductive coils to control alternating current. It may increase or decrease voltage. High voltage is necessary to send electric power any distance. Accuracy: There is an abundance of web sites about AC power and hydro power which inaccurately describe a particular site or person as being "the first" We actively improve our page to reflect an accurate international perspective. Please give us feedback if you see inaccuracy AND have a source as proof. Join others who like this topic on our Facebook page:

Illustration of a maiden providing electric power from a distance. International Electrical Exhibition Frankfurt 1891

	1879 Dolgeville Dynamo Dolgeville Mill, Dolgeville, NY, USA. 1879 possibly the earliest hydropower in the US? more research is needed. This is not AC but represents a start to hydro electric power in North America.
	1881 Niagara Falls, New York -A small dynamo supplied a few stores in in Niagara Falls with power for lighting. AC power came to this area 14 years later.
	1882 Appleton Wisconsin, US DC power, 12.5 kW. Some claim this to be the first hydroelectric station in the world, this is easily disproved, however it was the first Edison hydroelectric station. It powered Van Depoele's early electric trolleys later in 1886.
	1882 Miesbach to Munich, Germany- longest DC transmission to this date: 1400 volts 57 km distance built by Marcel Deprez. HVDC Transmission length: 57 km (37 miles)
	1884 Lanzo Torinese to Turino, Italy- 2000 volt 3 phase experimental transmission line. This information is from the Deutsches Museum in Munich and must be confirmed. Transmission length: 40 km (25 miles)
	1886 Great Barrington, Massachusetts The first AC power distribution system using transformers is built in the small city of Great Barrington. It used a Siemens generator and Edison's incandescent lights. Stanley and Z.B.D. had used the transformer in separate experimental systems in 1885, Great Barrington was the first full-scale installation. Transmission length: ~1500 ft (455 meters)
	1889 Oregon City Falls, Oregon, USA Longest DC transmission of power in North America is established south of Portland at Station A. Transmission length 14 miles (DC Power)
	1890 Oregon City Falls, Oregon, USA Experimental, 2 phase AC generators installed by Westinghouse at Powerhouse A, it sent power to Portland. It was 5 years later before regular commercial AC power was established in Powerhouse B. Transmission length 14 miles (AC power)
	1891: Telluride Colorado- Ames Hydroelectric Plant: 3000V, 133 Hz, single phase. It sent power to mining operations in the mountains near Telluride. It was a Westinghouse experimental project. Transmission length: 2.5 miles This website is under construction
	1891: Lauffen-Frankfurt Germany - A MAJOR STEP FORWARD: The first long-distance and 3-phase alternating current demonstration. This proved that three phase power worked the best for a power grid. This project was developed by Oskar von Miller and engineered by the founder of 3 phase AC power Mikhail Dolivo-Dobrovolsky. Transmission length 175 km (109 miles) This website is under construction
	1893: Redlands Mill Creek 1 powerhouse Redlands, CA 1893 The first 3-phase AC commercial power plant in the world. This used C.P. Steinmetz's improved 3-phase system. Transmission line length: 7 miles
	1893 Hellsjon - Grangesberg, Sweden: developed by Ernst Danielson, he also was involved in the Mill Creek Plant at Redlands, California in the same year. Transmission line length: 10 km
	1895: Pelzer Hydroelectric Plant, South Carolina This plant provided AC 3-phase power to the Pelzer Manufacturing Plant. 3300 V (no transformers were used on transmission) Transmission line length: 2.75 miles
	1895: Folsom Powerhouse, Folsom California Built near a reservoir that catches water from the Sierra Nevada outside of Sacramento. Transmission line length: 22 miles *The Folsom Prison opened a small AC powerhouse in 1893 as part of the same hydro system
	1895: Willamette Falls, Oregon, USA. Powerhouse B is built on the Willamette River and supplies commercial AC power to Portland 14 miles away. Transmission line length: 14 miles
	1895:Niagara Falls AC Power Plants Westinghouse won the contract to build this power plant. GE won the contract for power transmission to Buffalo. The opening of the power plants was trumpeted in the international press more than any other hydro plant before, or possibly since. For this reason it is mistakenly believed to be the first. Nonetheless it was the largest hydro power plant till that date. Transmission line length: 25 miles (1896)
	1897: Mechanicville Power Station, Mechanicville, New York Transmission line length: 17 miles This power station was built as an experiment of C.P. Steinmetz and commercial operation. - Also the site of Albert W. Hull's HVDC experiments in 1932 read more about it.HVDC
	Schaghticoke Power Station Schaghticoke, NY Site of an experimental monocyclic power transmission 1908. This was a project by AC Pioneer Charles. P. Steinmetz.
	After 1900 the number of power stations exploded. All across the world from Argentina to Singapore AC 3 phase power became established as the best way to supply populations with electric power. This list will become more refined over time. We are open to suggestions and will change our site to reflect the most accuracy as possible. Please see our Contact page and send us a link to the fact source if you find inaccuracies.