HELPING OUR
CUSTOMERS SHINE
SINCE 1945

Early Years

Before the creation of the Burlington Public Utilities Commission in 1945 (in what was to become Burlington Hydro), electricity was distributed into our community by private power companies and the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario.

Radial Railway

The Hamilton Radial Electric Railway Co. extends the Beach Line beside the hydro towers from the Brant Inn up Maple Avenue to Elgin and Brant Streets. Generators supply the power for the radial cars which use steam generated electricity.

First Connections

In 1900, the Ontario Electric Light and Power Company installs lines and poles to connect St. Luke’s and Knox Church, downtown street lights, the Town Hall, the Gazette and many downtown businesses. There is limited service at first – from dusk to dawn.

Dominion Power and Transmission Company

The Hamilton Cataract Power, Light and Traction Company takes over the electrical plant franchise in 1902 which then becomes the Dominion Power and Transmission Company. This is during an era experiencing the early adoption of electricity in the community.

Formative Years

The Dominion Power and Transmission Company and services Burlington until 1930.

Growth of Electric Street Cars

By 1904, the electric cars were running along tracks on the north side of New Street as far as Oakville.

Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission

The Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission (Ontario Hydro predecessor) becomes the world’s first publicly owned electric utility.

Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission

The Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission grows to supply power to more than 100 towns and cities in Ontario, but not Burlington, which decides to stay with privately owned Dominion Power.

Incorporation of Burlington

The Town of Burlington becomes official with its incorporation.

Electricity Seeds Further Growth

1915 though the balance of the decade, the newly founded city continues to grow, with electricity as a key enabler.

Electricity Permeates Life in Burlington

After a severe recession in the immediate post WWI years, the 1920s see an unprecedented rise in Canadians’ standard of living. The availability of electrical household goods and appliances are making life easier and the demand for electricity is on the rise.

Expansion of Electricity in Ontario

The Dominion Power and Transmission Company is absorbed by the provincially-owned Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario. The Commission takes over the operation of Burlington’s electricity distribution system for the next 15 years.

Expansion of Electricity in Ontario

Continued growth in the use of electricity … by the years leading up to WW II, the majority of homes and businesses in Burlington are powered by electricity.

Birth of Utility

Birth of Utility

Burlington Takes Ownership of its Utility. On July 6, 1945, the Burlington Public Utilities Commission is created under two branches, Water and Hydro, with headquarters at 387 Brant Street, opposite Elgin Street. Burlington PUC, and later the Burlington Hydro-Electric Commission, operates in a not-for-profit capacity with powers laid out under the Public Utilities Act and the Power Corporation Act.

Post WWII Power Shortage

After the war, the increasing use of power creates demand that the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario struggles to meet. Quotas are enforced to manage the shortage. For approximately 6 months in 1948 power is not available from 12:30 to 1:00 pm and from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in order to address the shortage.

Wage Earnings

By the mid-50s Burlington PUC linemen were earning a top rate of $1.97 an hour, while meter readers earned a top rate of $1.50 an hour.

Amalgamation

In 1958, Burlington, Nelson Township and the Aldershot area of East Flamborough were amalgamated to form one municipality, Burlington.

100 Amperes Service

Effective April 1, 1959, all electric services installed in new homes must have a minimum capacity of 100 amperes to manage an ever-increasing use of electrical appliances in the home.

New Office Facility Built

In 1960, 15 acres in the area of the first Brant Street reservoir is purchased to build a new head office and garage. The new building is officially opened on October 5, 1962, and still operates as Burlington Hydro’s main office today at 1340 Brant Street.

Continuing Company Growth

By the mid-sixties the Burlington Hydro-Electric Commission has 17,924 customers: 16,646 residential; 848 commercial; 236 farms; and, 194 industrial.

Continuing Company Growth

The utility has 105 employees and now owns 25 vehicles and trucks.

Burlington HEC

With the re-defining of the distribution areas in 1979, Burlington PUC becomes the Burlington Hydro-Electric Commission.

Rising Prices

Nuclear energy comes to prominence in the wake of Middle East tensions. The building of new nuclear plants causes electricity rates to increase dramatically. By early 90s, consumer rates have risen by 40%.

Operational Excellence

Growing team and continuing focus on service excellence, innovation and responsiveness.

An Evolving Business Landscape

Like many businesses, automation and computerization begins to take hold in the 90s. From customer information systems and automation in the Control Room and mapping, to computerization of business systems such as billing and metering.

New Control Room

Burlington HEC moves its control room into the main office facility, as more and more functions of the control room are automated and digitized.

Ice Storm

The Ice Storm of 1998 impacts over 4 million customers and strikes a swath of land from eastern Ontario to southern Quebec, and into the Maritimes. To help in restoration efforts Burlington Hydro sends crews to Perth in eastern Ontario and to Quebec to deal with the aftermath of the massive storm.

Energy Competition Act

In November 1998 the Energy Competition Act creates a new competitive electricity marketplace.

Burlington Hydro Created

Burlington Hydro is incorporated and wholly transferred into the ownership of the City of Burlington on January 1, 2000 as a for-profit company. The City creates a holding company, Burlington Hydro Electric Inc., to oversee two subsidiary companies: a regulated “wires” company, Burlington Hydro Inc., and an unregulated company, Burlington Electricity Services Inc.

The Blackout

What should have been a manageable local blackout out of Ohio cascades into the collapse of the entire Northeast region’s power system. The outage affected an estimated 10 million people in southern and central Ontario, and 45 million people in eight U.S. states. Power was restored in Burlington within a window of three days.

Market Evolves

The electricity market in Ontario continues to evolve as cutting-edge technologies and new legislation carves new roles and responsibilities for utilities across the province – from the installation of smart meters and micro-fit projects to the delivery of conservation programs. The government also commits to shutting down coal-fired generation in the province.

Industry Change and Burlington Hydro Innovation

Change continues to be the running theme into the 2010s. Ontario’s electricity sector becomes more customer-centric, while innovation and disruptive technologies take hold at Burlington Hydro – from advanced outage management systems and Customer Information Systems (CIS) to distributed generation and Electric Vehicle charging stations, to name a few.

A reenergized Company Brand

To better reflect the changing role of Burlington Hydro in this new environment, a new logo and brand provide a refreshed direction for the company into the future.

Ice Storm

In Ontario, over 600,000 customers are without power at the height of an ice storm that hits over the Christmas season. North Burlington is most severely affected and tremendous damage is done to the tree canopy as trees and branches come down on power lines. A Storm crisis centre is set up at the Kilbride Fire Station, providing an information hub for customers affected by the prolonged outage.

Evolving Brand

Celebrating 75 Years

Today, Burlington Hydro’s customer satisfaction score stands at a high of 96%. Thank you to our community of customers and thank you Burlington for 75 memorable years!