Referendum In the fall of 1966, a referendum was held on the question of forming our own hydro. The result of the question was in the affirmative.

On March 1, 1967 in Canada's Centennial Year, the Pembroke Hydro Electric Commission was born. The town having purchased the distribution system and all "in town" assets. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the office at 283 Pembroke St. West, George Cathercole, Chairman of the Hydro Electric Commission of the Province of Ontario, cut the ribbon, utilizing a lineman's knife.

With the Town of Pembroke purchasing the "in town" assets of the Pembroke Electric Light Company, the ownership of the utility was transferred from a group of investors to the Municipality of Pembroke. With this transfer of ownership, it meant that the utility would have to be more responsive to the public needs, in that the Commission members would be elected every second year to serve, and therefore, reflecting the public desires in the utility's annual objectives.

The first General Manager of the Pembroke Hydro Electric Commission was J.L. Tron  (1967-1970), who was the previous Manager of the Pembroke Electric Light Company, prior to purchase. "Larry" was a great deal more than a hydro manager having served on the school Board for years, (a Past President of the Ontario Electrical Safety Association, a Past President of the Pembroke Rotary Club, as well as being a very active church worker.)

On Mr. Tron's retirement in 1970, the Commission elected to operate under a "split Management" system. Wilburn Schultze as the Office Manager, and Murray L. Moore as Operations Manager  (1970-  1978).

The first Commission was appointed as follows:

1967 Eric Work Pharmacist (Chairman)
     Art McNair Industrialist
     Win. Kutschke (Mayor) 

Radio Station Manager demands because of additional capital required installed with a 10,000 KVA 44/12.4 KV (maximum).

In the first ten years of operation of the utility, the utility made tremendous strides as the following statistics show:

Total Number of Customers in 1967 5143 Total Number of Customers in 1999 7000

The Capital Assets similarly increased:

Total Net Fixed Assets in 1967 $2 Million Total Net Fixed Assets in 1999 $14 Million

On March 1, 1967, Pembroke Hydro began its operation with 20 employees. Today in 1999, we have 17 employees, of whom we are very proud..

In 1965  with the installation of the 4th substation on McKay Street, adjacent to the C.N.R. station, the programme was commenced to convert our distribution system from a "delta" system to a "wye" system. This reduced losses and increasing capabilities of the system. Progress on this work, along with the installation of new 4160 volt stations was over several years, and specifically as follows:

a) East of the Muskrat River completed in 1968, including increasing the capacity of Substation No. 2 to 6000 KVA.

b) Centre Ward completed in 1969.

c) West Ward completed in 1970, including increased capacity to 5000 KVA. d) Construction of the Campbell Drive Station 3750 KVA (1970).

In 1976, all of our stations were once again taxed to the limit in both ends of the City. After a two year study of the voltage levels, two stations were constructed  one on Quarry Road, and one adjacent the structure at Substation No. 3 on Third Avenue. The Quarry Road station was designed for a 20,000 KVA 44/12.4 KV capacity, with a 10,000 KVA being installed initially. The Third Avenue station was

1971-1972  W.P. Burgess  (Chairman)
     W.T. LeBarr
     Angus A. Campbell   (Mayor)

1973-1974  W.P. Burgess  (Chairman)
     W.C. McIntosh
     George B. Abdallah  (Mayor)

1975-1976  W.P. Burgess  (Chairman)
     W.C. McIntosh
     Henry V. Brown  (Mayor)

1977-1978  W.P. Burgess  (Chairman)
     W.C. McIntosh
     Henry V. Brown  (Mayor)

  The early days of Pembroke Hydro can only be described as very "trying", with problems such as a 100 percent debenture for assets, high inflationary period, and a backlog of electrical maintenance. It was through this era that marketing of electric heat in Ontario was prevalent, which subsequently affected our cash.

Subsequent Commissioners were:

1968-1969  Eric Work (Chairman)
     Charles Belec
     Win. Kutschke (Mayor)

1970-1971  Eric Work  (Chairman)
     W.P. Burgess
     Angus A. Campbell (Mayor)

In 1976, we constructed our first complete service centre for stock and vehicles. The construction of these facilities was long overdue, and has been proven by the increase in efficiency.

Pembroke Hydro Commission has now passed its thirty-second birthday. We are proud to be part of Pembroke, and we look forward to serving this community in the years to come, hopefully, with the forethought of our forefathers.

We are very proud of our facilities, our modern fleet, equipment, etc. This was not achieved in one year, but bit by bit, with the help of very dedicated employees. It is the sincere hope of our Commission and employees, that the accomplishments of "our hydro" will be as beneficial to our community in the next 50 years as in the past.

The Ottawa River Power Corporation is indeed very proud of its heritage and the community which it serves.