First Power in 1910
In August of 1910 the Waterloo Water and Light Commission took over the electric business of Mr. Wm. Snider who had two D-C generators driven by surplus water power at the Snider Feed Mill. Up until then the contract with the miller and the Town, included a “moonlight schedule”, whereby the lights would not be turned on during the period in each month when the moon was supposed to shine. It was perhaps the very beginning of energy conservation but it meant on a cloudy night there was no light whatever, much to the delight of some who for their own reasons preferred to have the town in darkness.
The Commission moved the generators to the William Street Plant and added a new 25-cycle generator, driven by a 180-horsepower steam engine to supply power until the first Ontario Hydro power became available on November 13, 1910.
November 22, 1911 was known as a Red Letter Day for the citizens of Waterloo for that was the day on which the new system of tungsten street lighting was officially turned on. The Hon. Adam Beck acclaimed Waterloo as “The best-lighted town in Canada”.
It is most interesting to note what has happened to the cost of power from those early days so long ago. In 1913 the Commission had 386 customers and the cost power was 6.1 cents per kilowatt-hour. Today Waterloo North Hydro Inc. has approximately 46,000 customers and the cost of power is about 5.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. How many commodities cost less today than they did in 1913? Electricity still lights the future and while it may not seem that way when we receive our bills, it continues to be a bargain.
| 1910 | Waterloo Water and Light Commission |
| 1928 | Waterloo Public Utilities Commission |
| 1973 | Renamed “Waterloo Hydro”, January 1st |
| 1979 | Renamed “Hydro Electric Commission of Waterloo, Wellesly and Woolwich”, January 1st. Officially known as Waterloo North Hydro. |
| March 1, 2000 | Incorporated under the Ontario Business Corporations Act as Waterloo North Hydro Inc. |
Waterloo North Hydro Inc.
300 Northfield Drive East
PO Box 640
Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4A3
Phone: 519-886-5090
Employment Opportunities
Phone: 519-888-5543
General Inquires:
Customersupport@wnhydro.com
Phone: 519-885-6840
Fax: 519-746-0133
Engineering Inquiries:
eclerk@wnhydro.com
Phone: 519-888-5552
ECRA/ESA LICENCE 7004206
Standard Business Hours:
8:30am - 4:30pm (Monday - Friday)
Emergency Hours:
24 hours a day, seven days a week
Hosted and Designed by:
