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100
early greek
the greek used rivers to turn wheels in order to grind wheat -
PCA
The Ontario Legislature passes the Power Commission Act and creates the Hydro-Electric Power Commission principally to build transmissions lines to supply municipal utilities with power generated at Niagara Falls by existing private companies. Adam Beck, a Minister without Portfolio, is named Chairman of the HEPC. -
HEPC
The HEPC signs contracts to purchase power at Niagara Falls and transmit it over its own lines, yet to be constructed, to municipal electric distribution utilities in Toronto and 13 other southwestern Ontario municipalities. -
idk
The HEPC's first 110,000-volt bulk electric power lines supply hydro to municipalities in southwestern Ontario. A special ceremony at Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario, marks the initial delivery of power by the Commission. Municipal electrification efforts expand rapidly to a highpoint of 360 municipal electric utilities in the 1960s. -
adam beck
Adam Beck is knighted by King George V for services rendered to the Commonwealth of Canada. The HEPC constructs its first owned generating station at Wasdell Falls on the Severn River. -
Period: to
HPEC
The HEPC becomes an electric distributor itself, not just a transmitter to municipal utilities, when it is mandated to electrify rural areas directly. -
war
The HEPC must redouble efforts to produce power for the war. The Quebec contracts are redeemed as an important source of power for war production. -
redouble
The HEPC must redouble efforts to produce power for the war. The Quebec contracts are redeemed as an important source of power for war production. -
st. lawrence
the HEPC develops the hydro-electric potential of the St. Lawrence in conjunction with American power authorities during the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The HEPC also develops stations on the upper Ottawa River and Quebec utilities receive rights to the lower Ottawa River. -
r.h. saunders
The 912-Megawatt R.H. Saunders plant in Cornwall, Ontario is declared in service by Queen Elizabeth and American Vice-President Richard Nixon. The plant is one half of a huge power station extending across the St. Lawrence River to the United States. The other half is the Franklin D. Roosevelt power station, owned and operated by the New York Power Authority. -
high volts
Construction of Canada's first extra-high-voltage (500,000 Volts) transmission line begins, bringing power from northern Ontario to demand in southern Ontario. This transmission line comes into service in 1967. -
ontario hydro
The Power Corporation Act replaces the Power Commission Act and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission is recreated as Ontario Hydro (as it had been known informally), a crown corporation governed by a board of directors. The new corporation is subject to scrutiny but not regulation by the Ontario Energy Board. -
25 years
Ontario Hydro initiates a 25-year demand supply planning exercise -
dropped
Ontario Hydro is facing a downturn in the economy and shrinking demand. Eventually the ambitious demand supply plan is dropped. -
macdonald
The Ontario Government establishes the Macdonald Committee as an Advisory Committee on Electricity Competition to provide recommendations on the restructuring of Ontario's electric industry. -
changes
The Macdonald Committee recommends sweeping changes including an open market in electricity. -
Period: to
leader
The North American Electric Reliability Council requires all utilities to take extraordinary measures to ensure that the electric power system withstands the automation issues posed by the infamous "Year 2000". Ontario Hydro is a leader of the industry and is the first North American utility to conduct a live test of Year 2000 readiness. -
direction for change
The Ontario Government issues a White Paper entitled, "Direction for Change: Charting a Course for Competitive Electricity and Jobs in Ontario," which sets a course for anticipated legislation for restructuring Ontario's electric industry -
restructure
The Energy Competition Act authorizes the restructuring of Ontario Hydro and the eventual opening of wholesale and retail electricity markets in Ontario. -
storm
An unprecedented ice storm hits eastern Ontario and damages 40 percent of Ontario Hydro's distribution systems, throwing 150,000 customers into darkness and freezing temperatures for as long as three weeks. The high-voltage transmission system to the major urban centres remains largely intact. Undaunted by treacherous icy conditions, nearly 2200 employees from Ontario Hydro, other utilities and contractors work 16-hour shifts, 7 days a week to replace 10,750 wood poles, 1,800 pole-top transforme -
power generation
In accordance with the Energy Competition Act, Ontario Hydro is restructured principally into three separate companies: Ontario Power Generation, The Ontario Hydro Services Company and the Independent Market Operator. The legislation transforms the company from a government corporation with its own statute into a share ownership company under Ontario's Business Corporations Act, like any other business. -
Period: to
still leading
The Ontario Hydro Services Company becomes an industry leader in working with the Independent Market Operator and the Ontario Energy Board to facilitate the creation of wholesale and retail electricity markets in Ontario. -
hydro one
Ontario Hydro Services Company is re-branded as Hydro One Inc.. Hydro One is launched as a corporate holding company with five subsidiaries: Hydro One Networks Inc., Hydro One Remote Communities Inc., Hydro One Markets Inc., Hydro One Telecom Inc., Ontario Hydro Energy Inc