Albert Edward "Dal" Grauer replaces W. G. Murrin as president of BCE. Serves till 1960.
BC Electric retires from retail sales of all appliances, while increasing its dealer development program to ensure maximum cooperation with dealers.
BCPC begins takeover from BCE of plants in Port Alberni and Kamloops.
BC Electric Power and Gas Co. name changed to BC Electric Co. This company handles all electric power and gas activities on behalf of its holding company, the BC Power Corporation, while sister company BC Electric Railway retains transportation.
Work resumes on Bridge River project, which had been postponed since the Depression.
New diesel station built at Golden by BCPC following purchase of Columbia River Power Co.
BCPC takes over BCE's plants at Alberni, Port Alberni, Parksville-Qualicum, and Royston.
Five-day work week begins at BCE.
BCPC takes over Cumberland Electric Light and Power Co.
Construction begins on La Joie storage dam for water supply to Bridge River plants.
Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. buys all but one of West Kootenay Power and Light Co.'s power plants.
First unit of BCPC's Elk Falls hydroelectric project near Campbell River is officially opened (plant later named John Hart Generating Station).
Victoria retires its last streetcar.
BCPC purchases Lake Cowichan Electric Co. and the municipally owned distribution system of Ladysmith.
Dal Grauer inaugurates Bridge River power plant.
Transmission line is completed from Campbell River to Victoria, allowing BC Electric to buy power from BCPC's John Hart Generating Station.
Opening of 60-kV power line between Vernon and Kamloops.
BCPC takes over Vancouver Island Utilities at Campbell River. Later in the year it also takes over Cumberland Electric Light and Power Co., National Utilities, Canadian Collieries Co., and the municipal systems of Courtenay and Comox.
BCE takes over Union Estates' plant on Bowen Island.
Diesel generating station starts up at Hazelton.
Diesel generating station starts up at Burns Lake.
More than 1,000 members of the BC Electric Office Employees Association become affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada.
BCE takes over Lytton diesel plant.
Official start-up of Victoria-Nanaimo transmission line and Glyn (Goward) substation.
Passenger service on interurban rail line between New Westminster and Chilliwack is discontinued. Pacific Stage Lines replaces interurban rail service in Fraser Valley.
BCPC agrees to purchase colliery companies' Puntledge Lake hydroelectric development (purchase effective in 1953).
BCE eliminates square foot area as a criterion for residential billing.
Whatshan hydroelectric project completed by BCPC in the Arrow Lakes area.
BCE takes over North Bend and Hope power plant from BCPC.
BCE takes over Cultus Lake operation.
BC Electric's Wahleach 60,000-kW hydroelectric station comes on stream between Chilliwack and Hope.
BCPC Clowhom hydroelectric development at the head of Salmon Inlet comes on stream bringing power to Sechelt area.
West Kootenay Power and Light Co. interconnects with East Kootenay Power Co. system via 90-mile, 171-kV transmission line to Kimberley.
BCE takes over Lindell Beach plant.
Mud and rock slides destroy Whatshan powerhouse. (One generating unit is restored in December.)
BCE takes over Spences Bridge and Ashcroft plants.
Alcan's Kemano project comes on stream with 291,000 kW to serve aluminum-smelting operations at Kitimat, 51 miles away.
Power from the rebuilt Aberfeldie Dam comes on stream just downstream downstream from the original dam.
BCE head office building at 970 Burrard Street, Vancouver, is opened.
BCPC brings power to Denman Island.
Cheakamus River project is completed, diverting water from the Cheakamus through a six-and-three-quarter-mile tunnel to a powerhouse on the Squamish River. 140,000 kW brought onstream.
BCE takes over Port Mellon plant from Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
Power comes onstream from powerhouse at La Joie Dam, with a capacity of 22,000 kW.
Power comes on stream from BCPC's Daisy Lake and Quinsam River dams.
Power comes on stream at BC Electric's Clowhom dam in Sechelt (30,000 kW).
BCPC's Buttle Lake plant comes onstream in the Campbell River area.
BCE buys power plant at Stillwater.
The "Briggs Affair" based on H. Lee Briggs' allegations against provincial government makes headlines.
BCPC chairman T. H. Crosby resigns (effective March 1959) over rates controversy. Hugh Keenleyside becomes new chairman.
Royal Commission headed by Gordon Shrum established by provincial government to enquire into BCPC rate structure-although the inquiry was prompted by the Briggs Affair.
BCPC's Ladore Falls plant is completed upstream from the John Hart Generating Station, operating initially at 50,000-kW capacity.
Power comes on stream from BCPC dam at Elsie Lake. Heber, Salmon, and Quinsam Rivers diverted to Campbell River to provide more power to Ladore and John Hart generating stations.
BC Electric completes 100,000-kW gas turbine plant at Port Mann.
BCPC's Ash River plant comes onstream.
Shrum Commission report finds evidence of BCPC "spending irregularities."
BCPC's Georgia Generating Station comes on-line with four gas turbines totalling 75,500 kW.
Hugh Keenleyside is named chairman of BCPC.
BCE acquires Earls Cove and Egmont plants.
BC Energy Board is established as a result of the Shrum commission.
Work on Terzaghi Dam (originally called the Mission Dam) completed, increasing storage in Bridge River system.
BCPC takes over Port Hardy system.
Harry Purdy replaces Dal Grauer as president of BC Electric. Serves till August 5, 1961.
Bridge River development completed with commissioning of units at Seton Lake. Final tally is three dams (Seton Dam, La Joie Dam, and Terzaghi Dam) and four generating stations.
Columbia River Treaty signed between American and Canadian governments.
Under the Power Development Act, BCE becomes a Crown corporation and acquires the Peace River Power Development Co.
Construction begins on Peace River project (W. A. C. Bennett Dam).
Power is first delivered from Burrard Thermal Generating Station. Expansion of the plant continues throughout the decade.
Power comes on stream from Clayton Falls dam near Bella Coola.
Power comes on stream from Walter Hardman dams south of Revelstoke (construction begun in 1959).
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) is formed, amalgamating BCE and BCPC. Hugh Keenleyside and Gordon Shrum are named co-chairmen.
Typhoon (Hurricane) Frieda hits the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, with the worst impact ever felt by BC's electric utilities.
"No strike, no lockout" agreements reached with Allied Hydro Council of British Columbia (representing 17 unions) for minimizing work stoppages on Peace and Columbia projects.
Uniform ("postage stamp") electric rate established for all residential customers in areas served by BC Hydro. Average service cost is 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour.
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