Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) is the combination of nearly 30 separate predecessor companies, dating back to the 1790s. But it wasn't until 1942 that Turners Falls Power and Electric Company, the United Electric Light Company (serving the Springfield area), and the Pittsfield Electric Company merged into a single entity, taking the name of the fourth member of that consolidation, the Western Massachusetts Electric Company, which added to the strength, stability and efficiency of these companies.

Turners Falls Power and Electric Company (1914)

The first electricity sold for commercial purposes came from a small company in the village of Turners Falls, withiin the town of Montague, which ran its waterwheel-driven electric generator at night. The power was sold to the Franklin Electric Light Company for distribution. The first generation of electricity from water power by the Turners Falls Company took place in 1906. It came from its Turners Falls Station, a 1,000-kilowatt unit located on the canal. By 1913, the station had grown to five units with a total capacity of 5,000 kW. Cabot Station was constructed in 1916, with an eventual capacity of 50,000 kW.

Just after the turn of the century, Philip Cabot joined Alvah Crocker in the Turners Falls group, becoming president of the company in 1908. He led his company well, creating a transmission company to carry electricity to Amherst and Easthampton. Thus, the Amherst Power Company was born. In 1914 its name was changed to Turners Falls Power and Electric Company.

World War I and the post-war period created an increased demand for electricity, so the company expanded its transmission system southward and by 1923 had reached the Springfield area. Another line went westward across the Berkshire foothills to Pittsfield.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (1886)

While the Turners Falls Company was enjoying the fruits of the Industrial Revolution, a new company was being formed only a few miles away. Greenfield Electric Light and Power Company, incorporated in 1886, was to be the immediate predecessor to WMECo.

This company's first generator was located in a shoe factory, which provided power from its boiler and engine after 6 p.m., when the factory shut down for the day. The electricity was sold for street lighting and home lighting. By 1897, demand for electric lighting had grown so much that a new 3,000-kW power station was built. Following that plant was the Gardners Falls hydro station, which had a capacity of 4,000 kW.

Pittsfield Electric Company

William Stanley and William Stanley, Jr., manufacturers of alternating-current machinery, contributed significantly to the fledgling electric utility business. They invented the transformer, which allowed alternating current to be available at different voltages. The transformer, combined with high-voltage transmission lines, helped make possible the spread of electric service over a wide area. The father-son team also developed the alternating-current watt-hour meter, making it possible to measure electricity use with a high level of accuracy.

Pittsfield Electric Company continued to expand its service to Dalton and other Berkshire County communities. In 1933, Lee Electric Company, which itself had acquired a number of smaller electric operations, became part of Pittsfield Electric Company. This would remain until 1942, when the Pittsfield utility merged into WMECo.

United Electric Light Company

Thanks to an experiment by Blair and Fiske Manufacturing Company, a lawnmower manufacturer, electricity came to Springfield. In January 1881, the company decided it needed better lighting for night work and began experimenting with arc lamps and later extended this lighting to their roof to light an adjacent ice skating rink, attracting the attention of local merchants, who began installing the lights. Demand continued to increase, and in June of that same year the Springfield Electric Light Company was incorporated, taking over the electric portion of Blair and Fiske's business.

Unfortunately, the new electric company could not handle the rapid expansion which followed. In 1887, United Electric Light Company was formed and purchased the Springfield utility. United immediately purchased land for a new generating station, which went into operation in 1889.

In 1912, United made a contract with Amherst Power Company, covering the sale and purchase of electric power, which continued until 1942. Expansion continued and on Dec. 13, 1942, United joined three other companies to form the Western Massachusetts Electric Company or WMECo as we know it today.

Forward from 1942

In 1942, the biggest merger was made when three companies were merged into WMECo. These were Turners Falls Power and Electric Company, Pittsfield Electric Company, and United Electric Light Company.

In 1946, Howard J. Cadwell became president of WMECo and led the company through an expansion period unequalled in its history. Cadwell began his utility career in 1929 with the Amherst Gas Company, which was merged into WMECo in 1934. He became WMECo's chairman in 1950 and held the position until the affiliation, when he became chairman of the Executive Committee at Northeast Utilities (NU). In 1968 he was succeeded at WMECo by Robert E. Barrett, who simultaneously led Holyoke Water Power and WMECo until 1974, when he, too, retired.

Following World War II, West Springfield Station was built. Its first unit was 50,000 kW and was completed in 1949. By 1957, the station had a capacity of 200,000 kW. In 1961, when the Yankee Rowe nuclear station went into commercial operation, WMECo was an owner. Also under Cadwell, the Northfield Mountain pumped-storage hydroelectric project consortium was begun, a major upgrade of transmission facilities made, and participation in nuclear power projects were undertaken before the affiliation.

Vigorously pursuing new uses for electricity, WMECo entered the electric heating market for dwellings in 1957. Offering a special day-night rate for all-electric homes, the utility became the first in New England to offer electric heat at a special rate. The incentives were soon offered to commercial and industrial customers as well.

Thus, when WMECo joined the NU affiliation, it was providing leadership to the utility industry at both the New England and national levels.