Molly Ayala
Atlantic City Electric (ACE) is an electric utility company that was founded in 1886 as the Electric Light Company of Atlantic City. In 1907, the Electric Light Company merged with three other Atlantic City utilities to form ACE. The company soon expanded beyond Atlantic City by acquiring smaller electric utilities. ACE continued to grow in the 1950s and 1960s, adding more generators and acquiring additional utilities. Today, ACE provides energy to approximately 550,000 customers in southern New Jersey and is now part of Exelon, a utility giant serving about 10 million customers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year electricity was brought into Atlantic City | 1886 |
| Company | Electric Light Company of Atlantic City |
| Parent company | Pepco Holdings |
| Owner | Exelon Corp. |
| Year of acquisition by Exelon | 2016 |
| Number of customers | 547,000-560,000 |
| Area served | Southern New Jersey |
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What You'll Learn
The Electric Light Company of Atlantic City was founded in 1886
The Electric Light Company of Atlantic City, now known as Atlantic City Electric (ACE), was founded in 1886. The company was established to serve a small section of the town, which was experiencing growth as a resort town for the middle class.
As Atlantic City developed, so too did the Electric Light Company. In 1907, the company merged with three other local utilities to form the Atlantic City Electric Company. This merger allowed the company to install larger generators and expand beyond the barrier island of Atlantic City by acquiring smaller electric utilities. The demand for electricity was increasing, and by the 1920s, ACE was continuing to grow, acquiring other utilities and investing in transportation infrastructure.
By the 1950s, ACE was facing challenges in keeping up with customer demand for electricity, which was increasing by about ten per cent. During this decade, the company added another generator at Deepwater, began constructing its largest plant at Beesley's Point, and installed its first 'jet turbines' to increase power capacity.
In more recent years, ACE has continued to expand and improve its services. In 2016, the company, now a part of Exelon, invested around $716 million into its electric system, resulting in improved reliability and performance. ACE currently serves approximately 547,000 to 560,000 electric customers in South Jersey.
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ACE's growth continued into the 1950s and 1960s
Atlantic City Electric (ACE), a public utility company, primarily serves the generation, transmission, and sale of electric energy in southern New Jersey. ACE's history began in 1886 as the Electric Light Company of Atlantic City.
ACE's growth continued well into the 1950s and 1960s. In 1951, the company pushed for the construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike, and later, the Garden State Parkway and the Atlantic City Expressway. These initiatives transformed southern New Jersey into a significant highway corridor. During this period of expansion, ACE acquired multiple utilities, including the Deerfield Packing Company's electric distribution system at Seabrook Farms and Cape May County's electric distribution system at Wildwood Airport.
In the 1950s, ACE expanded its infrastructure by adding another generator at Deepwater, commencing construction of its largest plant at Beesley's Point, and installing its first 'jet turbines' to augment power supply. By the 1960s, ACE continued to face challenges in meeting the escalating customer demand for electricity.
Environmental concerns emerged in the latter half of the 1960s regarding the use of coal for electricity generation, including air pollution and environmental degradation caused by mining. Consequently, ACE transitioned its plants from coal to oil, with the B.L. England Generating Plant at Beesley's Point becoming the first oil-burning generating plant.
ACE's growth and evolution over the decades have been marked by a commitment to infrastructure development, acquisitions, and adapting to environmental considerations. The company has played a pivotal role in shaping southern New Jersey's economy and energy landscape.
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In 1924, Atlantic City Electric reorganised into a corporation
The history of electricity in Atlantic City can be traced back to 1886, when the Electric Light Company of Atlantic City was founded. In 1907, the Electric Light Company merged with three other Atlantic City utilities to form the Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE). ACE soon began installing larger generators and acquiring smaller electric utilities to expand its reach beyond Atlantic City.
In 1924, ACE continued its growth trajectory by merging with four other coastal utilities and reorganizing into a corporation. This reorganization marked a significant step in the company's evolution, as it sought to capitalize on the increasing demand for electricity in the 1920s. However, the electric utility industry in the United States underwent significant changes in the following years. By 1932, a high level of consolidation had occurred, with 73% of all US utilities being owned by just eight companies.
As a result, the US government intervened to break up these large corporate structures. The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 was passed, which led to American Gas and Electric being forced to sell their interests in ACE in the 1940s. This resulted in ACE becoming an independent investor-owned utility company in the 1950s. During this decade, ACE continued to expand by acquiring more small utilities and increasing its involvement in New Jersey's economy. The company also added another generator at Deepwater and started constructing its largest plant at Beesley's Point.
In the 1960s, ACE faced challenges in meeting the growing customer demand for electricity. Additionally, environmental concerns arose regarding coal-generated electric power, leading ACE to transition its plants from coal to oil. The company continued to invest in its electric system, and in 2015, it achieved its best reliability performance in over a decade, with reduced outages and faster restoration times. As of 2016, Atlantic City Electric became part of Exelon Corp., creating a utility giant serving approximately 10 million customers.
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Atlantic City Electric is now part of Exelon
Atlantic City Electric (ACE) is an electric utility company that serves approximately 547,000-560,000 customers in southern New Jersey. The company was incorporated in 1886 as the Electric Light Company of Atlantic City to serve a small section of Absecon Island. By 1888, it was powering an electric Merry-Go-Round in Atlantic City.
In 1907, the Electric Light Company was merged with three other Atlantic City utilities to form Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE). The company soon installed larger generators and expanded beyond Atlantic City by acquiring smaller electric utilities. In 1924, Atlantic City Electric merged with four other coastal utilities and reorganized into a corporation.
In 2014, Exelon Corp. announced plans to buy Atlantic City Electric's parent company, Pepco Holdings, for $6.8 billion. The proposed acquisition faced regulatory scrutiny at the state and federal levels. In February 2015, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the merger, and the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia also gave its approval.
As a result of the merger, Atlantic City Electric became part of the energy giant Exelon, joining other utilities such as Delmarva Power, Pepco, PECO, Baltimore Gas & Electric, and Commonwealth Edison in Chicago. Atlantic City Electric remains a separate company with its local headquarters in Mays Landing, New Jersey. The merger brought benefits to its New Jersey customers, including $114 in credits to each Atlantic City Electric customer as part of a $62 million customer investment fund.
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ACE serves around 550,000 customers in southern New Jersey
The Electric Light Company of Atlantic City was founded in 1886 to serve a small section of the town. By 1888, the company powered the first all-electric merry-go-round, and within four years, an electric trolley service. In 1907, the Electric Light Company was merged with three other Atlantic City utilities to form the Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE). ACE soon installed larger generators and expanded beyond Atlantic City by buying up smaller electric utilities.
ACE is an electric utility company that serves around 550,000 customers in southern New Jersey. The company offers several rebate and energy efficiency programs to help customers save money off their monthly bills by upgrading their homes' energy performance. ACE also gives back to the communities it serves through charitable giving programs benefiting New Jersey education, neighbourhood development, culture, and the environment.
During a growth period in the 1950s, ACE acquired a number of utilities, including the Deerfield Packing Company's electric distribution system at Seabrook Farms and Cape May County's electric distribution system at Wildwood Airport. ACE also added another generator at Deepwater, began building its largest plant at Beesley's Point, and installed its first 'jet turbines' to provide increased power.
In the latter half of the 1960s, environmental concerns arose regarding the use of coal to generate electric power. As a result, ACE switched its plants from coal to oil, with the B.L. England Generating Plant at Beesley's Point becoming the first generating plant to burn only oil.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity was first brought to Atlantic City in 1886 by the Electric Light Company of Atlantic City.
The 1920s saw increasing growth in electric demand.
Yes, in 1907, the Electric Light Company was merged with three other Atlantic City utilities to form the Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE).
By 1932, 73% of all US utilities were owned by just 8 companies, all built on little more than debt and paper.
