EVOLUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS The commercial use of electricity began in the late1870s when arc lamps were used for lighthouse illumination and street lighting. The first complete electric power system (comprising a generator, cable, fuse, meter, and loads)was built by Thomas Edison-the historic Pearl Street Station in New York City which began operation in September 1882.This was a dc system consisting of a steam-engine-driven dc generator supplying power to 59 customers within an area roughly 1.5km in radios. The load, which consisted entirely of incandescent lamps, was supplied at 110 V through an underground cable system. Within a few years similar systems were in operation in most large cities throughout the world. With the development of motors by Frank Sprague in 1884, motor loads were added to such systems. This was the beginning of what would develop into one of the largest industries in the world. In spite of the initial widespread use of dc systems, they were almost completely superseded by ac systems. By 1886, the limitations of dc systems were becoming increasingly apparent .They could deliver power only a short distance from the generators. To keep transmission power losers (RI2) and voltage drops to acceptable levels, voltage levels had to be high for long-distance power transmission. Such high voltages were not acceptable for generation and consumption of power; therefore, a convenient means for voltage transformation became a necessity. The development of the transformation and ac transmission by L. Gaulard and J.D. Gibbs of Paris, France, led to ac electric power systems. George Westinghouse secured rights to these developments in the United States. In 1886, William Stanley, ...
