Molly Ayala
The history of electricity in New York City is a fascinating one. While electricity had been discovered much earlier, it was only in the late 19th century that it became a common power source in the city. The story of how New York City went from the gas era to the modern age is filled with innovation, competition, and even a War of Currents. The electrification of the city began with pioneers like Thomas Edison, who set up the world's first electrical power grid and lit up Lower Manhattan in 1882, but it wasn't until the early 1900s that electricity became accessible to all.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date electricity became common in NYC | End of the 19th century, with full access in Manhattan in 1899 |
| First commercial power station | Pearl Street Station, 4 September 1882 |
| First electric power distributed to homes and businesses in Midtown | Late 1888 |
| First competition | 1889, when Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company introduced AC lighting to Lower Manhattan |
| First electric street lamps | Arc lamps in 1880, on Broadway in December 1880 |
| First electric company in NYC | Brush Electric Company |
| First electric franchise in NYC | Edison Illuminating Company of New York, 1881 |
| Inventor of the electric light | Thomas Edison, unveiled on New Year's Eve 1879 |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Edison's role in NYC's electrification
On September 4, 1882, Thomas Edison's company, the Edison Illuminating Company, began providing electricity to homes in Lower Manhattan from its Pearl Street power station. This is widely considered the beginning of the electrical age, marking the start of electricity's real, practical, and commercial usage.
Edison played a significant role in the development of electricity and manufacturing in New York City. In 1879, he unveiled the electric light and, in the same year, demonstrated the first incandescent lightbulb. Edison founded the Edison Electric Light Company in New York City in 1881, marking the beginning of his efforts to electrify Lower Manhattan.
The Pearl Street power station was the first commercial power station, and it provided electricity to 59 customers in Lower Manhattan within the first month. By the end of 1883, the number of customers had grown to 513. Edison's power station used direct current (DC) to power buildings, while alternating current (AC) was also available at the time.
In the late 1880s, Edison engaged in the "War of Currents" with George Westinghouse, who utilised Nikola Tesla's patents. Edison sought to slander AC by demonstrating its dangers. Despite this, the Edison Company began planning for large-scale generation based on AC transmission, recognising its advantages over DC.
Edison's New York operation became profitable in 1885 due to the introduction of a practical industrial motor that increased daytime power load. This breakthrough simplified industrial plants, making them more efficient and safer. By the late 1880s, Edison's electric power was distributed to homes and businesses in Midtown Manhattan, marking another significant step in the electrification of the city.
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![Annual Report of the Commission of Gas and Electricity of the State of New York 1906 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81nNKsF6dYL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The War of Currents
The first arc lamps were installed in New York City in the 1860s, with a large array of arc lighting installed on Broadway in 1880. In 1881, the Brush Electric Company began receiving payment from the city for the arc light illumination of Broadway between Herald Square and Union Square. The dazzling arc light was too bright for homes, but it was perfect for street lighting and large interior spaces.
Thomas Edison, already famous for his improvements to the telegraph and telephone, as well as the invention of the phonograph, became interested in the potential for electric lighting in 1878. He opened the Pearl Street Station in Manhattan in 1882, introducing the concept of metered power sales for interior lighting and electrically powered equipment. This is generally credited as being the first commercial power station.
In 1886, Edison's system was faced with new competition from George Westinghouse's company, which used alternating current. AC could transmit power over longer distances from more efficient, large central generating stations. As the use of AC spread, the Edison Electric Light Company pushed back, claiming the high voltages used in alternating current were dangerous. In 1888, Edison Electric president Edward Johnson published a pamphlet warning companies that purchased equipment from Westinghouse that they were infringing on Edison's patents. The pamphlet also emphasised the safety and efficiency of direct current, claiming it had not caused a single death.
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The Pearl Street Station
Edison carefully selected the location for his first full-scale central station, choosing an area with a mix of commercial and residential spaces. The Pearl Street Station served what was known as the First District, bounded by Wall Street, Nassau Street, the East River, and Spruce Street. This district was significant in the history of electric power and contained several other power stations.
Despite its success in proving the viability of Edison's system, the Pearl Street Station faced financial challenges. The initial costs were high, including the expense of Manhattan real estate, the power station, wires, underground conduits, and other fixtures. The ongoing operating expenses, such as the large amount of coal needed to power the plant's boilers, also contributed to financial strains. The station did not recover its capital or operational costs during its first two years of operation and faced difficulties in meeting the growing demand for energy over greater distances.
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The introduction of arc lighting
The first electric street lighting in NYC was installed by Brush Electric Light and Power Co. (also known as Brush Electric Company) on Broadway from 14th Street to 26th Street, including Madison Square, in 1880 or 1881. This installation marked the beginning of commercial power distribution in Manhattan, with the city paying the company for arc light illumination. The Brush arc lamps were powered by small dynamos and steam engines, providing a reliable and self-regulating lighting system.
However, the early years of electric lighting in NYC were not without challenges. Generating and distributing electricity was unreliable, often requiring backup gas lighting. Additionally, there was resistance to adopting electric technology, with some property owners refusing to switch to electric wiring after investing in gas piping.
The competition in the electrification market emerged in 1889 when the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company introduced alternating current (AC) lighting to lower Manhattan. This sparked a "War of Currents" between Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) system and the emerging AC technology. Despite technical problems, Westinghouse and its partner United Electric Light & Power Company initiated 60 Hz AC in parts of Manhattan by the end of 1896.
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The shift from gas to electric
The first commercial power distribution in Manhattan began in June 1881 when the Brush Electric Company started receiving payments from the city for illuminating Broadway between Herald Square and Union Square using arc lights. This primitive form of street lighting was a significant upgrade from gas lanterns, improving the visibility of signs and window displays at night and boosting store income.
The following year, in 1882, Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station began supplying electricity to the financial district in Lower Manhattan. This event marked the beginning of the electrical age, as Edison's Illuminating Company provided electricity to homes at a price comparable to gas. By the end of the first month, they had 59 customers, and this number grew to 513 by the following year.
However, the initial adoption of electricity in New York faced some challenges. Edison's direct current (DC) system had limitations, including the unidirectional flow of electric current and difficulties in converting to different voltages. As a result, Edison's lights sometimes flickered, which customers found annoying. Additionally, there were competing interests, as some property owners in residential areas resisted the change and continued to invest in gas piping even into the 1900s.
The breakthrough for widespread electrification in New York came with the introduction of alternating current (AC) technology. Serbian-American scientist Nikola Tesla pioneered AC, which offered greater versatility than DC by allowing changes in direction and magnitude. In 1889, the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company acquired the United Electric Light & Power Company and introduced an AC system to compete with Edison's DC in Lower Manhattan. Despite initial technical problems, the advantages of AC eventually won out, and it became the preferred choice for New York's electricity infrastructure.
By the early 1900s, it is believed that anyone in the present Con Ed territory who desired utility power could obtain it, although some semirural areas in outer boroughs may have required customer financing to extend the lines. The shift from gas to electric power in New York City was a transformative process that spanned several decades, facing competition from established gas infrastructure and technical challenges, before ultimately ushering in a new era of electrification.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity became common in NYC towards the end of the 19th century. Thomas Edison's power station on Pearl Street, which opened on September 4, 1882, is generally credited as being the first commercial power station.
The first power station in NYC was Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station, which began operating in 1882.
Edison's system relied on direct current (DC), which means the electric current flows in one direction, similar to a battery.
DC had the disadvantage of not being easily convertible to different voltages. Edison's lights would sometimes flicker, which customers found annoying.
Serbian-American scientist Nikola Tesla pioneered alternating current (AC), which was more versatile than DC as it allowed for changes in direction and magnitude.
