Originally called the Willamette Falls Powerhouse (referred to as the powerhouse or dynamo house, it was renamed Station A after Station B (now called Sullivan) was built on the west side of the river.
The Willamette River is the 10th largest river in the lower 48 states. To meet Portland’s increasing power needs, Station A was built by the Willamette Falls Electric Company. Founded in November 1888, the Willamette Falls Electric Company was an early predecessor of PGE.
A 14-mile transmission line to Portland was erected and on June 3, 1889, the first generating unit was connected to provide street lighting in Portland. On June 10th, a second unit was connected to help power electric trolley in the city. These were the first instances of long-distance transmission of electricity for commercial purposes in the United States.
Realizing that Portland’s power needs were only going to increase, the Willamette Falls Electric Company was taking the unprecedented step of planning an alternating current (AC) system. The Company worked with W.C. Cheney, an electrical engineer noted for his progressive position on AC. The six 4,000-volt single-phase AC generators (dynamos) on the turbine deck of Station A were ordered from the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company – the only manufacturer willing to design and build such large equipment at the time.
Westinghouse insisted that it be absolved of any responsibility for unsatisfactory or unsuccessful operation. The generators were installed in the summer of 1890 and began transmitting electricity to Portland accomplishing another first – the first instance of long-distance transmission of alternating current for commercial purposes in the United States. In 1892, Portland General Electric Company was formed when the Willamette Falls Electric Company and the Willamette Transportation and Locks Company merged. And then, in 1897, the Willamette Falls Powerhouse was closed as a generation plant.
Willamette Falls Powerhouse
Originally called the Willamette Falls Powerhouse (referred to as the powerhouse or dynamo house, it was renamed Station A after Station B (now called Sullivan) was built on the west side of the river.
The Willamette River is the 10th largest river in the lower 48 states. Station A was the first plant west of the Mississippi on the Willamette River built by the Willamette Falls Electric Company (founded in November 1888 with Edward Eastham as president and Parker Morey as superintendent) to meet Portland’s increasing power needs.
A 14-mile transmission line to Portland was erected and on June 3, 1889, the first generating unit was connected to an arc light circuit used for street lighting. On June 10, a second unit was connected to help power the electric trolley operations. These were the first instances of long-distance transmission of electric energy for commercial purposes in the United States.
In the meantime, realizing that Portland’s power needs were only going to increase, the Company was taking the unprecedented step of planning an alternating current (AC) system. The Company worked with W.C. Cheney, an electrical engineer noted for his progressive position on AC.
The six 4,000-volt single-phase AC generators (dynamos) on the turbine deck of Station A were ordered from the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company – the only manufacturer willing to design and build such large equipment at the time. Westinghouse insisted that it be absolved of any responsibility for unsatisfactory or unsuccessful operation. The generators were installed in the summer of 1890 and began transmitting electricity to Portland accomplishing another first – the first instance of long-distance transmission of alternating current for commercial purposes in the United States.
In 1892, Portland General Electric Company was formed when the Willamette Falls Electric Company and the Willamette Transportation and Locks Company merged. In 1897, the Willamette Falls Powerhouse was closed as a generation plant.
1889-1897 (decommissioned)
Commercial operation
Willamette River, Oregon City
Location
Three Lynx Village
c.1920 - 2022
Station A
1889 - 1897
Willamette Falls 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
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition