Boston Edison Company

The Boston Edison Company (BECo) was incorporated as the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston in 1886.[1] It was one of the earliest electric utility companies in the United States of America. The company was formally renamed the Boston Edison Company in June 1937, although it had also been previously known by this name informally.[2]

Boston Edison Electric Illuminating Company building, built in 1906

Electric vehicles

Edward S. Mansfield was placed in charge of BECo's activities in relation to electric vehicles.[3] On 3 April 1911 BECo organised a conference at the Hotel Thorndike, in Boston to encourage closer co-operation between electric vehicle manufacturers and central station managers in the Boston area. Dugald C. Jackson attended and promised the support of MIT in providing scientific research to support the development of the electric vehicle industry.[3]

Disappearance as independent company

In 1999 it was merged with Cambridge Electric Light Company, Commonwealth Electric Company, and NSTAR Gas Company to form NSTAR.[4] After subsequent mergers, what remains of the Boston Edison Company is now part of Eversource Energy.[4]

South Boston power plant

The company operated the L Street Power Plant (now 776 Summer Street) in South Boston, which was constructed in 1898, with the turbine hall constructed in 1903.[5] At the time of decommissioning it belonged to Exelon, which sold it for redevelopment in 2016. The Exelon New Boston Power Plant had been built on the same property without demolishing the original Edison building.

Real estate firms Redgate and Hilco Redevelopment proposed a mixed-use development, which would require the state to release a 2014 deed restriction prohibiting residential construction. The site adjoins Conley Terminal and its haul road (which is the reason for the restriction), and a reserved shipping channel.[6][7][8]

See also

References
  1. "Boston Edison Company History". fundinguniverse. Funding Universe. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. "Boston Edison Company records". hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu. Harvard Library. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  3. "Electric Vehicle Conference at Boston". Electrical World. 57 (13 April 1911): 899. 1911.
  4. Osborne, Paul E. (2016). Corporate History of Gas and Electric Utilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (PDF). Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
  5. South Boston Edison Power Plant Planning Process Report
  6. Can the South Boston power plant redevelopment include housing? Question arises amid design review
  7. Southie power plant proposal cuts initial housing units by more than half
  8. Legislature may get involved in fight over housing at old power plant in South Boston


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