1860s - 1930s
Electrifying Oregon
With the availability of electricity that originated at Willamette Falls, industry in Portland and the surrounding area thrived. During this era, this new electric power from the falls, along with the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, did wonders to put Portland on the map. Although reliance on electricity wasn’t what it’s like today, the founders saw the future opportunities for the region and expanded PGE’s operations to the Clackamas River.
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
1860s - 1930s
The History of PGE
Portland General Electric (PGE), along with its predecessor companies, has a unique and significant history that has shaped the Willamette Valley and beyond into what it is today over the last 150 plus years. As a company, PGE is proud of our story and wants to celebrate the history powering Oregon with our customers and the public. PGE is dedicated to preserving aspects of our history through protecting the past, while powering the future as we look towards a decarbonized future.
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
PGE’s story begins with the formation of the Willamette Falls Electric Company, generating electricity from Station A, the company’s first power plant. The T.W. Sullivan Hydroelectric Plant, originally called Station B, was added in 1895 to replace Station A and remains in operation today generating approximately 16MW of clean energy.
Era highlights:
Willamette Falls Powerhouse
T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
PGE lights the Lewis & Clark Exposition, dazzling visitors and leading the Portland area into a period of explosive growth. The company stayed busy selling an assortment of wonderous electrical appliances while building new power plants along the Clackamas River to keep up with growing demand.
Era highlights:
Three Lynx Village
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
PGE's story begins with the formation of the Willamette Falls Electric Company, which generates electricity from Station A, the companies first power plant. The T.W. Sullivan Hydroelectric Plant (1895), originally Station B, remains today generating approximately 16 MW of clean energy.
Era highlights:
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
PGE lights the Lewis & Clark Exposition, dazzling visitors and leading the Portland area into a period of explosive growth. Employees keep busy selling the wondrous assortment of electrical appliances rolling off production lines and building new power plants along the Clackamas River to keep up with growing demand.
Station A
Station B
PGE Firsts
The first era of PGE’s history saw the introduction of electricity as a part of everyday life in Portland.PGE achieved the first long-distance transmission of electricity in the U.S., spanning fourteen miles from Willamette Falls in Oregon City to Portland. This milestone, along with other electric generation and transmission firsts, marked the electrification of Oregon and put PGE and Portland on the map.
Highlights:
Long Distance Transmission
Steam Engine Generators
Steel Tower Transmission
Era highlights:
Willamette Falls Powerhouse
Era highlights:
T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse
Willamette Falls Powerhouse
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
PGE’s story begins with the formation of the Willamette Falls Electric Company, generating electricity from Station A, the company’s first power plant. The T.W. Sullivan Hydroelectric Plant, originally called Station B, was added in 1895 to replace Station A and remains in operation today generating approximately 16MW of clean energy.
T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
Forever Evolving
Powering the Future
A Thoughtful Transition
Clackamas Project Expansion
Building Reliable Power Plants
Powering Progress
Willamette Falls
Clackamas River Construction
Electrifying Oregon
History of PGE
2007 | Port Westward
Forever Evolving
Learn about Port Westward
2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
2016 | Carty Generating Station
Forever Evolving
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility
Powering the Future
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm
1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant
1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant
1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
1956 | Timothy Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1956 | Frog Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1909 | Electric Building
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line
1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1924 | Three Lynx Village
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about Three Lynx Village
1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station B
1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station A
1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
2007 | Port Westward
Forever Evolving
Learn about Port Westward
2007 | Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
2016 | Carty Generating Station
Forever Evolving
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2020 | Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility
Powering the Future
View the 1990s - Present Timeline
2014 | Tucannon River Wind Farm
Powering the Future
Learn about Tucannon River Wind Farm
1974 | Beaver Combustion Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Beaver Combustion Plant
1976 | Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Trojan Nuclear Power Plant
1980 | Boardman Coal Power Plant
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Boardman Coal Power Plant
1958 | North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
Learn about North Fork Hydroelectric Plant
1964 | Round Butte Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1958 | Pelton Dam & Powerhouse
Building Reliable Power Plants
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1965 | Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
Building Reliable Power Plants
Learn about Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line
1956 | Timothy Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1956 | Frog Lake
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1953 | PGE Parks & Recreation
Expansion of the Clackamas River Hydroelectric Project
View the 1940s - 1980s Timeline
1909 | Electric Building
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | The Milliken Transmission Line
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about The Milliken Transmission Line
1907 | Faraday Powerhouse (Station G)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1911 | River Mill Powerhouse (Station M)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1924 | Three Lynx Village
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
Learn about Three Lynx Village
1924 | Oak Grove Powerhouse (Station P)
Constructing Hydropower on the Clackamas River
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
1895 | T.W. Sullivan Powerhouse (Station B)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station B
1889 | Willamette Falls Powerhouse (Station A)
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
Learn about Station A
1868 | Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company
Willamette Falls: the birthplace of an electric Oregon & PGE
View the 1860s - 1930s Timeline
Show All
A Thoughtful Transition
1990s - Present
Powering Progress
1940s - 1980s
Electrifying Oregon
1860s - 1930s
Faraday Powerhouse
Three Lynx Village