"We are off now, just let anyone try and stop us". Uttering these words, Sir Adam Beck ushered in a new age of power when he opened the Wasdell Falls Generating Station in 1914. As first chairman of the company whose generation business would evolve into OPG, he had a vision that electricity was the way of the future and it is that vision that still drives the company today.

While the company had no trouble meeting the modest needs of the time, industrial and consumer growth quickly began to push the system to the limit and in-between the First and Second World Wars, our company was constantly expanding its facilities to successfully meet the demand. Continuing that expansion right through the post-war boom and beyond, the company built its first nuclear plant in 1971 and began delivering power to the provincial grid.

As our customers' needs change, we work as hard today as we did back then to provide power in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible. What does the future hold? Whether it's changing the way we do business or embracing brand new technology, you can bet that OPG will be there, leading the way.

Learn more about our proud history

1906-1930

• The Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario is formed with Sir Adam Beck
  as Chairman
• The Commission carries out its first transmission surveys
• The first electricity is delivered, with demand for 4,000 kW soon to follow
• Hydro purchases its first power source and opens its first hydroelectric plant
• Construction begins on Sir Adam Beck-Niagara Generating Station No.1

1939-1955

• Hydro begins construction on three new developments to provide essential power to the war effort
• Work starts on the J. Clark Keith station and on the electrical frequency standardization program
• The Richard L. Hearn plant opens in Toronto
• Sir Adam Beck-Niagara Generating Station No. 2 opens and construction commences on several new installations
• Hydro begins development of a small, experimental nuclear station

1959-1990

• Work begins on a larger prototype nuclear station
• The Pickering A Nuclear Power Station begins to supply power to the provincial grid
• Construction of the Darlington Nuclear Power Station commences
• Bruce A Nuclear Power Station becomes fully operational
• Hydro's nuclear stations produce more electricity than either coal-fired or hydroelectric stations
• The company continues to build new facilities and upgrade existing ones to meet customer needs  

1991-1999

• Hydro invests $179 million in energy conservation
• A Year 2000 readiness program is launched
• Hydro workers work around the clock to restore power after
  "The Ice Storm Of The Century"
• Ontario Hydro is divided into several successor companies
  - including Ontario Power Generation

2000 and beyond

• To help offset carbon dioxide emissions, OPG pledges to plant 2 million trees in southern Ontario by 2007 – as of 2004, 1.8 million trees had been planted
• OPG completes the long-term lease of Bruce A and B Nuclear Generating Stations to Bruce Power
• The Pickering A, Unit 4 nuclear reactor is returned to service in September 2003 after being laid up since 1997
• The Ontario government endorses the OPG Board of Directors' decision to proceed with a third water diversion tunnel for the Sir Adam Beck hydroelectric stations
• The government endorses the OPG Board's decision to return the Pickering A,
  Unit 1 nuclear reactor to service