History of Halton Hills Hydro

Available information shows as early as 1888, Mr. John R. Barber had a turbine generator, rated at 100 H.P., installed at a location on the Credit River near Georgetown , to supply power to his paper mill.
At that time he constructed a transmission line two miles long from his plant to the mill; which is stated to be "The first case of practical long distance power transmission in the world."

Original supply to Georgetown came from the Georgetown Electric Light and Power Company. First Overtures for Hydro power commenced on April 18,1912, when a resolution was passed by the Municipal Council asking for estimates on the cost of power and the cost of a distribution system.

By the end of July,1913, all work was practically completed and Georgetown received it's first supply of Niagara power.

In 1913, after the Corporation took over the business, there was a rapid increase in the number of customers.

Records indicate that in 1931 there had been a Georgetown Hydro Electric Commission established and administered by the Commission up to 1980.

On April 1, 1980, Government Bill # 119 went into effect dissolving the present Acton and Georgetown Hydro Electric Commissions, and established the present Halton Hills Hydro Commission. The new area consisted of Acton, Georgetown and Esquesing Township, which was Ontario Hydro Rural.

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