Petty Harbour Generating Station

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Petty Harbour Generating Station
Location of Petty Harbour Generating Station in Newfoundland and Labrador
Location	Canada Newfoundland and Labrador
Coordinates	47°27′54.99″N 52°42′44.78″W / 47.4652750°N 52.7124389°W / 47.4652750; -52.7124389
Construction began	1898
Owner(s)	Newfoundland Power
Power Station
Hydraulic head	57.9 m (190 ft)
Turbines	3
Installed capacity	5.3 MW
Annual generation	18 GWh

The Petty Harbour Hydro Electric Generating Station is a hydroelectric generating station in Petty Harbour–Maddox Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was constructed in 1898 and it was the first hydroelectric generating station in Newfoundland.^[1] It was built by the St. John's Street Railway Company, a company established by Robert Reid. Operation commenced on 19 April 1900.

In 1920 Reid renamed the company the St. John's Light and Power Company. On 7 February 1921, an avalanche destroyed 23 m (75 ft) of the wooden penstock that carried water from the dam to the generating station, cutting off all electrical power to St. John's for almost five days.^[2] Then, in 1924, the plant changed ownership to the Royal Securities Corporation of Montreal, where they began extensive reconstruction of the plant and watershed area.

On 1 May 1978, the plant was entered in the Canadian Engineering Heritage Record as a model reflecting progressive adaptation to emerging technology, and remains today^[when?] as one of the few plants of its type still in active service.