More than a century ago, the people of Alameda saw that electricity was the power of the future. Today, Alameda Power & Telecom is one of the oldest electric utilities in the world.

In the Beginning

The City of Alameda was incorporated in 1872. Thirteen years later, in 1885, the Jenney Electric Company, under contract with the City, constructed a 90-kilowatt generating plant at what is now the corner of Park and Otis. Also installed were 13 iron masts, 125 feet high, from which clusters of arc lamps furnished street lighting for the City.

Two years later the City purchased the plant and entered the power business. During this period, the City shared the birth pains of the entire electrical industry. The incandescent lamp was barely out of the laboratory stage of development. Very few commercial buildings and practically no residences were wired for electricity, and most appliances we now take for granted had not yet been invented.

Powering street lights was the plant's main purpose. Interestingly, the lights were not turned on during periods of bright moonlight. This "Moonlight Schedule" of plant operation was common for many areas up in the early 1900s.

The Board Is Created

On July 18, 1906, the City electors adopted a Freeholders Charter that provided for a Department of Electricity, under a Board consisting of three Commissioners, who were to "serve without compensation." On August 8, 1916, a Charter forming the City Manager-type of government was adopted.

A "Department of Public Utilities" was created, and the Mayor appointed three Commissioners. On November 8, 1934, the electorate adopted new Charter amendments relative to the operation of the Department of Public Utilities. This established a five-member Board who was to be elected rather than appointed by the Council. In April 1937, the Charter was changed so that four Commissioners were appointed by the City Council with the City Manager an ex-officio member.

This is the present form of the Public Utilities Board. Commissioner salaries are the same as specified in 1906: Commissioners are "without compensation" despite their significant contribution.

Enter Hydroelectric Power

In 1919, the price of oil (at $1 per barrel) made the cost of generation in the small plant excessive, so the purchase of hydroelectric power from the Great Western Power Company began. Great Western was later purchased by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

The plant was last run in 1924, a drought year. The plant was dismantled and sold in 1928. The building was converted to offices and a warehouse for the Operating Department for a time. This building was replaced by the current headquarters structure at Grand Street and Clement Avenue.

Central Substation, at Grand Street and Eagle Avenue, was built in 1935. The station replaced those at Webster Street and Pearl Street, which were the original receiving points for power from Great Western. The Central Substation also provided a control point for the system.

By Land and by Sea - the Military

World War II brought us the Naval Air Station, an Army depot, and several shipyards to the City and an increase in population from 40,000 to more than 80,000. Two additional electric power lines were brought in, and Webster Substation, which was then being dismantled, was reactivated despite wartime restrictions placed on purchasing the equipment necessary for plant expansion.

Meeting Alameda's Needs

In 1981, Alameda Power & Telecom studied alternatives for meeting the future electrical needs of the City. The results indicated that, rather than add many new 12-kilovolt circuits across the Estuary, Alameda Power & Telecom should convert its service to a single 115-kilovolt loop utilizing the existing Atlantic Substation and replacing the other three substations with one new substation, Jenney Substation, at Walnut Street and Clement Avenue. Energy losses were drastically reduced, on the order of six million kilowatt-hours per year. Operation and maintenance costs dropped greatly as well. Installation of the 115-kilovolt line was completed in 1985.

Since 1982, most of Alameda's power requirements have been met through our membership in the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA). NCPA is a joint power agency founded in 1968 consisting of 15 public entities. Alameda Power & Telecom has an option to participate in a share of any projects developed by NCPA.

Alameda Power & Telecom's power investments are diverse, economical, stable in long-term costs and environmentally benign. The utility has one of the best environmental records in the industry, with well over 80% of power being generated using clean, renewable resources.

Approximately 33,000 customers continue to enjoy rates well below those in surrounding communities. Also, since 1914, the Utility has returned approximately $78 million to the City's General Fund.

The Age of Telecom

In October 1996, Alameda Power & Telecom completed the first phase of the installation of a fiber optic backbone for command and control of its electric system. A year later the Public Utilities Board approved a Telecommunications Business Plan.

Over the next two years the Public Utilities Board worked with the City Council to place revisions to the City Charter before the electorate. In November 1998, Alameda's electorate approved Measure A allowing the utility to offer telecommunications services and products.

Known for many years as the City of Alameda Bureau of Electricity, the utility's name was changed to Alameda Power & Telecom in 1999 to reflect the diversification into the new services.

In January 2000 Alameda's City Council authorized telecommunications financing. A month later Alameda Power & Telecom announced the completion of the SchoolNet Project, fiber-optic facilities that link 22 Alameda Unified School District sites.

July 2001 marked the formal launch of Alameda Power & Telecom's Cable television services.

In early 2002, the Utility began offering AlamedaNET, a high-speed Internet service, to its residential customers.

The Best Is Yet to Come

Today, the Alameda Power & Telecom commitment is best expressed by our mission statement:

"We guarantee the highest-value electric and telecommunications service."