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 l