| Date |
Event |
|
|
| 1839 |
- The first documented visit to the mighty Churchill Falls in western Labrador is made by John McLean, while on an expedition for the Hudson Bay Company.
|
| 1850s |
- Water wheels and turbines are commonly used to drive machinery in sawmills and flourmills.
- Thomas Edison begins manufacturing direct current (DC) electric generators. This helps to introduce hydroelectricity in North America.
|
| 1880s |
- Mill owners begin to install small generators of up to 10 to 12 kilowatt capacity to provide electric lighting.
- Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg are the first cities in Canada to introduce electric lighting.
- Energy developers realize that Canada’s water resources offer vast potential for inexpensive electricity. Hydroelectric development increases.
- All electric distribution systems use direct current (DC).
- Hydraulic turbines are installed in city centres to provide lighting service, initially during evening hours only.
|
| 1881 |
- Ottawa Electric Light Company builds small waterwheel at Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River to supply power for street lighting. This is possibly the first hydraulic generator in Canada.
|
| 1882 |
- The first commercial hydro plant in the United States begins operation in Appleton, Wisconsin. The plant uses a waterwheel to drive DC generators to produce 25 kilowatts.
|
| 1886 |
- U.S. engineer William Stanley invents the induction coil, a transformer that creates alternating current (AC) electricity. He also builds the first AC electric system in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
|
| 1890 |
- Croatian-born physicist Nikola Tesla invents the AC generator. This invention and the development of the transformers allow electricity to be transmitted longer distances. During the 1890s, electric distribution and transmission systems switch to AC.
|
| 1891 |
- The first long-distance, high-voltage transmission line is developed in Germany. It carries electricity 177 kilometres (120 miles) at 8 kilovolts.
|
| 1892 |
- Montreal builds its first hydro plant on the Lachine canal.
|
| 1893 |
- A railway company installs two 1,000 horsepower (hp) generators at Niagara Falls to operate electric tramway and to supply local power.
- Calgary builds the first hydro generator in Alberta (280 hp) on the Bow River.
|
| 1894 |
- While on an expedition for the Geological Survey of Canada, A.P. Low identifies the potential of Churchill Falls as providing “several millions of horsepower” in useable energy.
|
| 1897 |
- One of the earliest examples of long-distance electricity transmission in Canada occurs from a power station on the Batiscan River 27 kilometres (16 miles) to Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The line carries 11 kilovolts.
|
| 1898 |
- Canada’s first major hydroelectric facility is constructed at Shawinigan Falls, Quebec.
- BC Electric (later BC Hydro) builds the first major hydropower plant on the West Coast.
|
| 1900 |
- The first international transmission line between Canada and the United States is built.
- Manitoba’s first hydro facility — the Minnedosa River plant — is built.
- Canada’s hydropower capacity totals 173,000 horsepower, with most concentrated in Quebec and Ontario.
|
| 1901 |
- The first transmission line at Niagara Falls is built, paving the way for future exports of electricity to the United States.
|
| Early 1900s |
- Hydro developers begin to develop more remote sites and extend the length of transmission lines to supply power.
|
| 1903 |
- Shawinigan Water and Power Company signs contracts to supply power to manufacturers of aluminum and pulp and paper. It installs North America’s longest distance high-voltage line (50 kilovolts) to carry electricity 135 kilometres (84 miles) to Montreal.
|
| 1904 |
- First hydropower companies at Niagara Falls, Ontario begin operation.
- New Brunswick builds its first hydro plant on the Meduxnekeag River.
|
| 1906 |
- Ontario politician Sir Adam Beck creates the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario, the first provincially owned electric utility in Canada. He promises to provide power “at cost” to customers and encourages the development of large, efficient generating stations to lower operating costs and electricity rates.
|
| 1909 |
- Calgary Power (precursor company to TransAlta) is formed, and in 1911 develops its first hydro dam at Horseshoe Falls west of Calgary.
|
| 1910 |
- Mining company constructs hydro development in the Yukon.
- The Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario completes the first 100,000-volt transmission lines to supply several municipalities in southwestern Ontario.
|
| 1920 |
- Hydropower accounts for 97 per cent of electricity generated in Canada.
|
| 1921 |
- Sir Adam Beck No. 1 hydro plant at Niagara Falls is completed. At 1,123 megawatts, it is the world’s largest.
|
| 1920s |
- Hydro sites close to urban areas are mostly developed, and future hydro sites become increasingly remote.
|
| 1931 |
- Construction of Hoover Dam (originally called Boulder Dam) on the Colorado River is completed, becoming the first hydro power plant to produce 1 gigawatt (1 million kilowatts).
|
| 1944 |
- Hydro-Quebec is established. Today it is Canada’s largest electric utility.
|
| 1950 |
- Hydropower accounts for 90 per cent of electric generation capacity in Canada.
|
| 1950s |
- Hydropower serves both the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
|
| 1957 |
- The first pumped storage hydro facility in Canada begins operation at Niagara Falls, Ontario.
|
| Early 1960s |
- Saskatchewan develops its first hydro facilities on the South Saskatchewan River.
|
| 1971 |
- After years of planning and labour and a cost of $946 million, the first two generating units at Churchill Falls begins delivery of power to Hydro-Quebec on December 6, five months and three weeks ahead of schedule.
|
| 1992 |
- Hydropower accounts for 62 per cent of electricity generated in Canada.
|
| 1998 |
- Newfoundland and Quebec announce a joint project to develop 3,200 megawatts of new generation on the Churchill River located at Muskrat Falls some 140 miles down stream of Churchill Falls, Labrador.
- Churchill Falls, a community of approximately 650 people, is also home to the largest underground power station in the world.
|
| Currently |
- Today, hydro accounts for about 61 per cent of Canada’s electricity. There are nearly 70,000 megawatts of hydro generating capacity installed.
|
