
The oldest electric company in the world is Austria's Mosdorfer, which was established in 1712 and is still running today. The company initially produced sickles and sabers, but has since expanded into the development and manufacturing of energy transmission systems. The oldest electric company in the United States is Baltimore Gas and Electric, which was founded in 1816 as America's first gas company. The Edison Illuminating Company, founded in 1880, was the first company to construct electrical generating stations, initially in New York City. The first central station, the Pearl Street Station, opened in 1882 and was the world's first commercial power plant and cogeneration plant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oldest power company in the world | Mosdorfer, established in 1712 |
| Oldest privately-owned industrial manufacturer | Joseph Oat Corporation, established in 1788 |
| First electricity supply business | Baltimore Gas and Electric, entered the electricity supply business in 1816 |
| First power company in Australia | AGL Energy, established in 1837 |
| First power company in France | SPIE Group, established in 1836 |
| First power company in Germany | Bilfinger Noell, established in 1824 |
| First commercial power plant in the US | Pearl Street Station, opened in 1882 |
| Largest public power company in the US | Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), provides electric power to nearly 8.5 million customers |
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What You'll Learn

Austria's Mosdorfer is the oldest
Austria's Mosdorfer, established in 1712, is the oldest electric company in the world. The firm, which has its head office in Weiz, initially produced sickles and sabers. However, in 1949, Mosdorfer received its first order for the construction of an overhead transmission line, marking its entry into the electricity business. Over the years, the company has expanded into other areas, including the development and manufacturing of energy transmission systems. Today, Mosdorfer is a recognised specialist in applications of high, medium, and low voltage technology, catering to the energy, railway, and telecommunications sectors.
Mosdorfer, also known as Mosdorfer GmbH, is considered the "parent company" of the Knill Gruppe, celebrating its 300th anniversary with the group in 2012. The company has produced fittings for overhead lines and contact lines for over seventy years, demonstrating its longevity and expertise in the field.
The company's key contact personnel include Erich Kaltmann, Managing Director; Wolfgang Troppauer, Technical Director; and Walter Wild, Quality Manager. The team ensures the smooth operation and management of the company, contributing to its success and longevity.
Mosdorfer's longevity can be attributed to its ability to adapt and expand its operations over time. Initially starting as a producer of sickles and sabers, the company recognised new opportunities in the emerging electricity sector and successfully transitioned into constructing transmission lines. This adaptability has allowed Mosdorfer to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-changing industry.
When compared to other long-running power companies, Mosdorfer stands out as the oldest. For instance, Joseph Oat Corporation, the oldest privately-owned industrial manufacturer of power generation equipment, was established in 1788, over a century after Mosdorfer's founding. Similarly, Baltimore Gas and Electric, America's first gas company, was established in 1816, and Huntsville Utilities, an electricity, gas, and water service provider, was founded in 1823. These companies, although established and renowned, are relatively younger than Mosdorfer.
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AGL Energy is Australia's oldest
AGL Energy, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is the oldest power company in the world. It was established in 1837 as the Australian Gas Light Company, originally supplying town gas for the first public lighting of a street lamp in Sydney in 1841. The company was made public in 1871.
Over time, the company diversified into electricity generation, acquiring stakes in power stations and ownership of wind farms and hydroelectric schemes. In 2006, AGL merged with Alinta and then demerged to create separate retail and infrastructure companies, with AGL holding the energy business and a portion of Alinta's retail and cogeneration business.
AGL Energy is now Australia's largest electricity generator and distributor, serving approximately 1.25 million households. It is also one of the "big three" retailers in the National Electricity Market. In addition to its Australian operations, AGL has previously owned assets in New Zealand, including a gas distribution system and an electricity retail business.
Despite its long history, AGL has faced challenges in recent years. In 2021, the company announced plans to split into a bulk power generator and a carbon-neutral energy retailer, but this proposal was abandoned in 2022 due to expected shareholder disapproval. AGL has also been Australia's largest carbon emitter, with 83% of its energy coming from burning coal in 2022. However, the company is targeting new renewable energy goals and has committed to closing its coal-fired power stations by 2035.
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Joseph Oat Corp is America's oldest
The Joseph Oat Corporation, founded in 1788, is America's oldest continuously operating industrial fabrication business. The company was started by Jesse Oat in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and originally sold copper works such as kettles and utensils. Jesse's son Joseph continued the business, adding brass and sheet-iron work to the company's offerings. The company also built stills, steam engine boilers, and pressure vessels for soda water bottlers.
Over time, the company expanded its expertise and became known for its exquisite copper plates and lamps. The Joseph Oat name has become synonymous with quality and reliability, particularly in the area of pressure vessel and heat exchanger technology. Today, the company is located on the Delaware River in Camden, New Jersey, and boasts 120,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space.
The key to Joseph Oat's success lies in its employees and its ability to provide a high level of personal service. The company is not managed by a corporate conglomerate, but rather by owners who work side by side with their employees. This unique structure allows Joseph Oat to maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction and to tackle large and challenging projects while providing a sense of old-fashioned service.
As a technology leader, Joseph Oat has expertise in heat transfer technology and provides innovative solutions to its customers. The company is committed to staying influential in heat exchanger design technology and performs various analyses on pressure vessels to meet customer specifications. Joseph Oat's quality assurance program complies with stringent federal and international standards, ensuring the highest quality equipment for its customers worldwide.
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Schneider Electric is France's oldest
Schneider Electric is one of the oldest and most important companies in the French electronics industry. The company was founded in 1836 by brothers Adolphe and Joseph-Eugene Schneider, who took over an iron foundry in Le Creusot, France. Two years later, they founded Schneider-Creusot, which would eventually become Schneider Electric.
Initially, Schneider-Creusot specialized in steel, heavy machinery, and transportation equipment production. The company's industrial empire soon spread throughout France and beyond, and in the 19th century, Schneider & Cie pioneered iron manufacturing processes using coal and steam-powered machines. They also established steelworks and entered the emerging electrical sector. By the 1870s, following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the company had significantly developed its capacity for weapons manufacturing and become a leading European weapons manufacturer.
In the first half of the 20th century, Schneider-Creusot continued to grow, establishing manufacturing sites in France and abroad, including in pre-Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia. After World War II, the company abandoned weapons production and focused on Europe's infrastructure needs, developing power rectifiers for industries and electric locomotives under the Westinghouse license. In the second half of the century, Schneider-Creusot was absorbed by Belgium's Empain group, which merged it with its corporate structures to form Empain-Schneider.
In 1994, Schneider's corporate structure was further rationalized with the creation of a new Schneider Electric S.A. subsidiary based in France. In 1999, the company renamed itself Schneider Electric to reflect its focus on the electricity sector. Since then, Schneider Electric has continued to grow and expand through strategic acquisitions, becoming a global leader in the electrical industry.
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Baltimore Gas and Electric is America's first gas company
The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) is the world's first and longest-running gas and electric utility company. It was founded in 1816 as the Gas Light Company of Baltimore to light the streets of Baltimore. The first streetlamp was installed at the corner of North Holliday and East Baltimore streets and was lit on February 7, 1817. By 1818, only 28 gas-lit lamps existed, and the Belvidere Theatre became the first public building to be lit using gas.
Over the next few decades, the company experimented with piping, meters, and other mechanical technology. Baltimore committed to gas for municipal use, including the installation of gas service in all public markets by 1851. Private subscriptions also steadily increased, and by 1870, the company had 15,301 customers in Baltimore. In 1880, BGE's customers began using incandescent lamps.
In 1930, the Safe Harbor Water and Power Corporation was incorporated to construct and operate the Safe Harbor Dam. Baltimore Gas and Electric (then known as the Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore) held a 2/3rd share in the corporation. The company rebranded in 1955 and adopted the acronym BGE sometime during the 1990s. In 1999, BGE created the holding company Constellation Energy, which was acquired by Exelon in 2012.
Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE is Maryland's largest gas and electric utility, delivering electricity to more than 1.25 million customers and natural gas to over 650,000 customers in central Maryland. BGE is also a member of two shared-crew networks in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, providing support during severe weather events.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria's power firm Mosdorfer, established in 1712, is the oldest electric company in the world.
Established in 1837, AGL Energy is the oldest electric company in Australia.
Baltimore Gas and Electric, established in 1816, is the oldest electric company in the United States.
The Edison Illuminating Company, established by Thomas Edison on December 17, 1880, was the first electric company in the United States.










































