HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1961-12-07, Page 3Early History of
Hydro in Scca
In the days before Niagara
power was available to the mum
icipalities the Seaforth Electric
Light, Heat and Power Company
operated a small steam driven
plant, There were two generators
for lighting supply and one for
supplying current ffor,the arc
lamps which illuminated the
streets,
Communication received from
the Mayor of Seaforth, dated Jan•
nary 7,1910, requested particu-
lars regarding a supply of Hydro -
Electric power for the town. An
engineer was sent to investigate
conditions there as well as in
towns in the area. It was found
JOHN F. DALY pictured about
the time Hydro came to Sea -
forth. The late Mr. Daly was a
member of the town council
committee which made the Int•
tial arrangements for Introduc-
ing Hydro here, and later was
chairman of the Public Utility
Commission for 17 years.
that there was a demand of
about 400 h.p. in Seaforth.
Estimates were accordingly
_ Rrepared and submitted on the
cost of transmitting and supply-
ing Seaforth at a cost of 341.25
per h..11. per Year for 400 h.p.
Estimates were also made on
the cost of the transforming sta-
tion and switching and distribut-
ing equipment. Two By -Laws
were passed by the town in Aug-
ust, 1910, one authorizing the
Town Council to enter into a con-
tract with the Hydro -Electric
Power Commission for the sup-
ply of power and the other Guth•
oriziug the Council to issue de.
bentures for 325,000 to cover the
cost of apparatus necessary to
receive and distribute power A
contract was signed for 400h.p.
at 341.25 per h.p, per year,
The Engineering Department
of the Commission was later ap-
pointed consulting engineer for
the town.
S:pecifications were prepared
covering the substation building
and equipment, and tenders were
called for and received covering
all of this equipment, and for-
warded to the Corporation with
the Commission's recommendat-
ions for their approval,
The contract for the substation
structure was locally `awarded,
The building was constructed
strictly in accordance with plans
and specifications prepared by
the Commission's Engineering
Department, This work was com-
pleted and power turned on No-
vember, 1911.
An extension was built to the
local distribution system to serve
Egmondville, giving house light-
ing and power service,
Statistics Reveal Big
Increase In Use of
Hydro In Seaforth
Rates Prior to Hydro:
Domestic -8c per kwh plus 250
mater .rental.
Commercial -8c per kwh plus
25c meter rental.
Date of First Power from
HEPO. Dec. 1 1911,
Statistics:
Annual Peak Load in Kilo-
watts
1960 - 1,842
1945 - 877
1911 - 84
%change 1960/45 110%
Total Number of Customers:
1960 • 865
1945 - 666
fe
a o
1913 _ 293
%Change 1960/45 30%
Total Kilowatt -Hours Sold:
1960 , - 6,563,259
1945 3,398160;584710 986,571840
%Change 1960/45 99%
Average Cost Per kwh Sold:
1960 1,32e
1945 1,28c
1933 - 2.40e
%Change 1960/33 45%
Number of Flat Rate Water
Heaters:
1960 219
1948 113
%Change 1960/48 94%
Cost of Substation Transform-
ers:
1911 - 3 • 150 K.V.A. for $5,000.
1942 - 3 - 250 K,V.A. for $8,699.
1951. - new substation with ca-
pacity of 2000 K.V.A. for $40,000.
A statement from the Hydro -
Electric Power Commission of
Ontario to the Municipality of
Seaforth, dated, Toronto, Ont.,
Jan. 5th, 1912,
To power used during the
month of December 1911.
Maximum 20 minute peak dun.
ing month 87,1 x,.90 h.p./70 at
41,00/12=3382.62,
Copy of invoice from the Hy-
dro -Electric Power Commission
of Ontario, 620 University Ave.,
Toronto 2, Ontario. Dated: Jan,
6, 1961.
To: Public Utility Commission,
Box 266, Seaforth, Ontario.
To power used during month
of December 1960,
Time of Max Peak, Deo,12, 17:42
Total K.W. Hours 790,156
Power Factor 94.8%
Maximum 20 minute Peak 1,845.-
8
,845:8 K. W. Less Mitchell R. 4.0
1,841.8 K.W. 336.50/12
Total of $5,602.14
In accordance with terms of
contract this account is due and
payable on or before Jan.23, 1961.
Interest will be charged at 5%
thereafter.
1911 = Committees -Town of
Seaforth.
Charity—Mayor, Reeve, J. F.
Daly.
Street—J.J. Clnff, Wm. Ament,
F. Harburn
Fire izo & Water 0, Greig,
A., McKay, 3. 3. Cluff,.
Finance - J, 11', Daly, Jots, Gil-
lespte, Wm, Ament.
Property -- Jas, Gillespie, F.
Harburn and A, McKay,
Hydro -Electric Committee: J
F, Daly, 3, 0, Greig, D. McCal
lura,
March 21, 1911,
Your Hydro -Electric Commit
tee to report that in their opin
ion the most suitable situation
for the erection of the eleotri
distribution station be in rear 9
the Town Hall.
Signed: 3, F. Daly, J.C. Grei
& D. McCallum. Received and ad
opted by Council, March 21, 191
May 17, 1911.
Your committee on Electri
Power and Light beg to report a
follows: That the findings mad
by Mr. Stevenson and Mr, Terra
as to measurement of wires
poles, etc. on streets and in stop
amount to 33,635,68 which am
mount we recommend, be paid t
the Seaforth E, L, Ii, & P. Co. a
per former agreement.
Signed: D, J. McCallum, 3, la
Daly, J. C. Greig. Received an
adopted by council May 17, 1911
July 3, 1911,
Moved by A, McKay and sec
ended by la. Harburn that th
tender of H. Edge for construe
ion of Hydro -Electric transform
er building be accepted and th
quality of the face brick be lef
with the Hydro -Electric Conrmit
tee. Carried,
• pe36,ea. ' arrieu,
December 11, 1911,
By/law #105 for 1911 was read
• twine and blanks filled in re
light, water commissioners,
o Vote of the ratepayers of Sea-
t forth for By-law 106 was 163.
Vote of the ratepayers of Sea -
g forth against Bylaw 105 was 137.
Moved by F. Harburn seconded
1 by 3, Gillespie that By -Law 105
for 1911 of Town of Seaforth be
read a third time, Carried,
0
s Commissioners and Personnel
s In 1912 D. J. McCallum was
Public Utility chair ian and W.
k E. Kerslake commissioner, J. C.
Greig was mayor; Ed Mole man-
o ager and J. A. Wilson, sec.-treas.
s Mr, Mole continued as super-
intendent until 1936 and Mr, Wil-
. -t
il-
son was sec: treas, until 1935.
d On June lst, 1912, W, E, Kers-
, lake was appointed chairman and
J. F. Daly, appointed commission-
er for the remainder of the term,
. Reason: D. J. McCallum left the
e Commission as he removed from
Seaforth.
J. F. Daly became chairman in
e 1918 and continued until 1929.
t W. E. Kerslake was commission-
. er until 1920, succeeded by J, J.
Chaff until 1929.
Mayors of Seaforth from 1912
to 1929 were J. C. Greig (2
years), Wm, Ament (2 years), H.
commissioners he prapared and TIM S1'1AFORTH NEWS (Phone 84)•• --Thursday, December 7, 1.961
submitted to the council at next
Meeting, Carried,
an 6, Caza o
Moved by A. McKay and Boo -
ended by la, Harburn that min -
la pay balance due Seaforth E,L,.
Td. & P. Co. on account pole lines
as per agreement amounting to
August 17, 191.1,
Moved by J. J. Cluff and sec
onded by Wni. Ament that the
Mayor and treasurer be author.
ized to pay the Seaforth Electric
Light, Heat and Power Co. $2,000
on account of pole lines, Carried.
November 13, 1911,
Moved by J. J. Cluff and sec-
onded by J. F, Daly that the am-
ount of $1,000.00 on account of
pole lines be paid to the Seaforth
Electric, Light, Heat and Power
Co. Carried.
December 4, 1911.
Moved by 3. F. Daly and sec-
onded by J. 3. Cluff that the Cor-
poration get into contact with
Hydro, Electric Purchasing Dept.
for the purchase of all the elect-
ric lights required. Carried.
Also council rent Jas Gilles -
pie's store by the month for the
storage and show of electric fix
tures, etc. at 310.00 per month.
Carried.
Moved by 3, C. Greig, second-
ed by A. McKay that a bylaw for
the- election •of water and light
50 YEARS
OF PROGRESS
show that electrical wonders never cease
"Great" is the word for the progress that has been -made in the generation,
distribution and application. of electricity during the' past fifty years. This is
very clearly reflected in Seaforth where the average domestic consumption
per customer,has increased from approximately 12 kilowatt-hours to over
400 kilowatt-hours per nionth. •
On the Fiftieth Anniversary of electrical service to Seaforth, high tribute is
due to the Seaforth Public Utilities Commission whose excellent distribution
facilities provide an efficient, low-cost electrical service—bringing a richer,
fuller life to all in this progressive area.
ONTARIO,
0'
tag
EC1B,C
e
0
HYDf2,0'i
Stewart (3 years), F, Harburn (2
Years), W, H. Golding (9 years),
prom 1930 to 1932, J. 3, Clift
was chairman, W, FI, Golding,
commissioner, R. G. Parke was
mayor (1 year), J. 1?', Daly (2
years).
In 1933 W. H. Golding was
chairman, E. L. Box, commission-
er, A, D. Sutherland was mayor
till 1936,
E, L. Box was chairman•from
1934 to 1944; W. H, Golding was
commissioner 2 years, A, Y. Mc-
Lean 7 years, G, D. Ferguson 2
years,
3, J, Cluff was mayor from
1937 to 1940, K L. Box was man-
ager from 1937 to 1945, and D.
H, Wilson, sec,-treas., from 1936
to 1946.
G, D. Ferguson was chairman
194545, A, Y, McLean till 1950.
Ken Campbell was commissioner
1945 to 1960. M. A. Reid was ma-
yor 2 years and 3, E. Keating
1949-50.
W. V, Brown was manager and
sec:treas in 1947 and W. R. Thu -
ell in 194849.
D'Orlean Sills was chairman in
1951-52; Frank Kling in 1953.61,
E. L. Box was colnmtssioner in
1951, Prank Kling 1952, D'Orlean
Sills 1953-61.
E, A. McMaster was mayor
1951.57; R. B. Holmes manager
1952-58 and R. 3, Boussey 1959.61.
D. H. Wilson was sec,-treas, in
1960.51; R. Pullman 1952.53;
Mrs. F. Hiussor, 1964.1959; Mrs.
3. Boyes 1960.61.
13. F. Christie was mayor 1958-
1960, followed by E. Daly.
Rate Before Hydro 33o
Number of customers in 1911,
293; 1921, 423; 1931, 605; 1941,
679; 1951, 764; 1981, 876,
The average monthly domestic
consumption for the same' years
was 16 KWH; 20 KWH; 83 KWH
1.47 KWH, 289 KWH and in 1961
407 KWH.
Peak load in 1911 was 8 K4;
in 1921 376 KW, 1931, 467 KW;
1041, 546,3 KW; 1951, 1073 KW,
and 1961, 1842 KW,
Cost to PUC in 1911 was 54.63
per KW; 1921, 60.0 per K.W,;
1931, 46.3 per KW; 1941, 40.6;
1951, 39,51; 1961, 35.5 KW.
Prior to Hydro the rate was
.330 per KWH,
1921In1 , 19116.8c, hydro net cost' to con -
sinners was 8.60 per KWH; in
In 1931 domestic rate was 2.5
and 1.25 per 100 hrs.; oommerc•
ial rate 2.5, 0,75; power, ,per 50
hrs., 2,6, 1,7, 0.33.
1941 rates: dom., 2.9, 1,1; com.
2.2, 0,7, per 100 hrs.; power, per
130 hrs. 1,9, 1.3, 33,
1951, domestic, 3.1, 1.2, 0.83 per
100 hrs,; comm., 2.6, 0.9, 0.83;
power per 100 hrs., 2,1; 1.4; 0.30.
1961 rates: dom, 3,0, 1.6, 0.8;
comm., per 100 hrs. 2.30, 0,8, 0.6;
Power, per 100 urs„ 1.6, 0,5, 0.33,
The foregoing information was
compiled from town council mi-
nutes and official records of the
Seaforth Public Utility Commis-
sion, It presents a history of
steady advance in the use of Hy-
dro and at the same time the
cost decreased,
WE'VE COME
A LONG WAY
SINCE 1911
It was just 50 years ago that the first electrical energy
came over transmission lines from Niagara Falls
to Seaforth.
Let's Look At Some Startling Facts
In 1911 Power cost was 8.6c per Kilowatt Hour.
In 1961 Power cost is only 3.0c per Kilowatt Hour.
Our average monthly peak rose from 84 K.W. in 1911
to 1845 KW. in 1961.
Number of customers increased from 293 to 885
in 50 years.
Yes, we've grown -- we've expanded -- we're bigger
than ever. Why ? Because more and more people
each and every day -- have discovered the many
advantages of Living Better Electrically. Hydro is
clean -- safe -- modern -- no flames -- no offensive
fumes and no sooty film.
Some things however don't change.
HYDRO still belongs to the citizens of Seaforth.
HYDRO still is non-profit, operated forand on
behalf of the citizens of Seaforth.
ij Observing 50 Years of Hydro
PubIic Utility
commission
F. Kling, Chairman D. Sills, Commissioner