Control of Nanaimo Light, Power and Heating Co. is acquired by the Commonwealth Corporation.
High transmission line connects Duncan and Nanaimo systems.
BCE's Ruskin plant on Stave River comes onstream with two 35,000-kW turbogenerators.
Northern BC Power Co. opens its Falls River hydroelectric plant 31 miles south of Prince Rupert.
New domestic energy rates based on floor area are introduced in an effort to increase average domestic consumption of electricity.
Bridge River tunnel through Mission Mountain is completed.
West Kootenay Power and Light Co. installs a hydroelectric plant at Goat River to serve community of Creston.
Weekly bus passes are introduced in Vancouver.
Barrière Dam is constructed.
Gas is supplied to North Vancouver over the rebuilt Second Narrows.
BCE starts its Farm Service department.
New manufactured-gas plant goes into operation on Carrall Street in Vancouver.
BCE's Farm Service News starts publishing.
Amalgamation of Duncan Utilities Ltd. and Nanaimo Power Co. into Nanaimo Duncan Utilities Ltd (NDU).
Ice storm downs power lines and disrupts transit throughout southern BC.
Electric transmission line from Victoria's Jordan River plant to Duncan (via mains at Bamberton) is completed.
BCE creates motor transport subsidiary Fraser Valley Freight Lines.
BCE restores wages cut in 1929.
Beginning of "Better Light-Better Sight" campaign in Victoria schools reflects increased concern with standards of lighting.
Saltspring Island gets electric light from Nanaimo Duncan Utilities.
New Westminster switches from streetcars to buses.
New Public Utilities Commission is created. Limits BCE to earning 5.8 percent on its investment.
Public Utilities Commission launches review of BCE and its subsidiaries (completed in 1943), and of other electrical utilities in the province.
First President's Conference Car (PCC) streetcar put into service in Vancouver.
Residential electric service in Vancouver costs 2.6 cents per kilowatt hour.
BCE streetcar workers form Stry Credit Union.
Women begin to work as meter readers in Vancouver and Victoria, replacing men diverted to the armed forces and defence industries.
Public Utilities Commission gives favourable report on BCE and its operations.
Spring and summer. Rumours of government intent to take over BCE stir debate about public ownership; principal proponents are mayors of Vancouver and Victoria.
First "conductorettes" hired for Vancouver streetcars.
Householders in Kamloops, in the Lower Mainland, and on Vancouver Island are given free electricity for the months of November and December. (Free months are repeated in 1944 and 1945.)
Public Utilities Commission establishes Rural Electrification Committee to report on progress and opportunities in electrification of the province. (Report published in 1945.)
BC Electric introduces "Reddy Kilowatt, the Housewives' Pal" in radio and print advertising. Reddy symbol is shared by many privately owned utilities throughout North America.
West Kootenay Power and Light Co. completes 55,200-kW plant at Brilliant.
W. G. Murrin announces BCE's $50-million post-war expansion program.
10-day strike by streetcar and bus workers in Vancouver, Victoria, and New Westminster.
Under the Electric Power Act, the British Columbia Power Commission (BCPC) is formed to consolidate generation and distribution of electricity throughout the province and to provide for progressive extension of service. Sam Weston is appointed chairman.
After considerable controversy, the provincial government authorizes BC Electric to import power from the Bonneville project in the USA.
BCPC purchases Nanaimo Duncan Utilities, its first acquisition. (Followed in the same year by acquisition of West Canadian Hydro Electric Corporation and Terrace's municipal plant.)
BC Electric retires from sale of small appliances in order to encourage individual dealers. It also offers to subsidize their advertising of electric appliances.
BC Electric starts "Business Is Moving to BC" advertising campaign in England, the United States, and Eastern Canada to encourage industrial development in the province.
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