| 1965 |
Gloucester Hydro was launched (electrical power was first introduced to Gloucester township in 1924 via Ontario Hydro). Township residents, led by Arthur Bowker (who later became the utility's first Commission Chair), had been seeking lower electricity rates and local control of the electricity system. Morris McEwen was the founding General Manager, and would serve the utility for the next 24 years. The first office was located in the basement of the local township hall at Leitrim and operated with 25 employees serving 4,663 customers. |
1972 |
It had become too difficult to prepare more than 10,000 bills by hand, so keypunched data was sent to the Service Bureau of Data Crown for processing. |
1973 |
Number of customers increased to 12,000, representing an annual growth rate of 15%. |
1974 |
Gloucester was the first utility in Eastern Ontario to switch to a higher voltage (i.e. from a then standard 8.3/4.8 kV power grid to a 27.6 kV power grid). This resulted in more cost-efficient and reliable service for their customers. |
1981 |
Township of Gloucester received city status. |
1983 |
A computer system and software were installed in the utility headquarters, so that bills could once again be processed in-house. |
1986 |
A survey was conducted with over 11,000 customers. 98% were more than satisfied with the level of service provided. |
1990 |
After using Ontario Hydro's logo and corporate colours for the past 25 years, Gloucester Hydro introduced its own logo and corporate colours: a stylized "GH" with green and gold on a white background. Over 2,000 people attended a 25th Anniversary Open House, which featured safety presentations, equipment displays, bucket truck rides and a BBQ. Number of customers = over 32,000. |
1995 |
Employees had grown to 77, serving over 34,500 customers. |
1998 |
Number of Gloucester Hydro employees = 90. Number of Gloucester Hydro customers = 37,500. |
