| 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.
|
RSS
