Saskatchewan Builds an Electrical System
Date
1968-09
Authors
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
During the 1890's, within a decade of the establishment of the
world's first central generating stations, similar installations appeared
in what later became Saskatchewan. Following the granting of provincial
status, power plants serving single communities sprang up at scattered
locations. Meanwhile, technological advances in the field of electrical
transmission made it possible to generate power where energy sources
existed (at hydroelectric sites, coal fields, gas wells) and transmit it
to a number of communities or industries where it was in demand.
Integrated electrical systems comprising many miles of high-voltage line
and more than one generating station thus took shape. The first proposal
for the creation of such a system in Saskatchewan came in 1912. Others
were put forward during the 'twenties and 'thirties but not until the
'fifties did construction finally get under way. Then within a decade,
not only were hundreds of miles of heavy transmission line and a number
< of modern generating stations erected, but a multitude of small urban
communities were electrified and a massive program of farm electrification
was completed.
Why did Saskatchewan wait so long before establishing a modern power
system? The standard explanation is that it could not be done any sooner
because of such impediments as the depression and World War II. This is
far from the truth. Politics was an important cause. Though it was
impracticable to effect the scheme outlined in 1912, such was not true of
later ones. During the early 'twenties the Province asked an expert if
it was economically advisable to begin construction of an integrated
system. The answer was yes. As a result, the Government appointed a
royal commission to study the whole field of electrification and make
recommendations. The commissioners reached the same conclusions as the
expert, advising the Government, verbally at least, to commence building
an integrated system at once, plainly intending to recommend such action
in their report. However, political considerations entered the picture,
and they were prevailed upon to change their recommendations. Consequently,
at the behest of the Government the commission urged it to take steps
which can be interpreted only as leading to economic waste and which would
retard rather than expedite development of the province's resources.
In 1928 the Government began instituting some of the commission's
recommendations. Additional political decisions soon assured that the
system it built would be little more than a showpiece to which politicians
could point as evidence that they were following their declared policy
of public ownership. While the commission was conducting its inquiry, a
number of private utility companies purchased the electrical systems
serving dozens of communities. Soon thereafter a publicly owned utility,
established in 1929, did likewise. Meanwhile some municipalities
retained their utilities. As a result, the utility field was divided
among various owners whose operations were governed by little in the way
of overall logic. Hence, it was impossible to establish any large power
system without a good deal of cooperation or a major rearrangement in
the own er ship of property. As if that was not bad enough, planning for
such a system was virtually ruled out when the Government secretly assigned
zones to the public and private utilities.
Not long afterwards, when a private company made proposals somewhat
similar to the original recommendations of the royal commission,which if
instituted would have represented a major step forward technically and
economically, they were rejected because certain individuals failed to
examine their merits.
Even when integration was finally carried out, it could have been
accomplished more economically and on a more equitable basis had it not
been for political considerations.
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Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
History
Program
History