Friday, August 5 2005 16:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Bangalore is all geared to celebrate the centenary of its electric history today (August 5, 2005). The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) is marking its centenary year today (August 5, 2005) at 4.pm at Ravindra Kalashetra for which Chief Minister Dharam Singh will be the Chief Guest. It was on August 5, 1905 that Bangalore got power when two 415 KVa transformers were planted in the city's first sub station. Station A came up at Anand Rao circle while Station B on Mahatma Gandhi Road. The company then was known as Bangalore Electric Light and Power (BELP).

A BESCOM official said that the old station A is still visible but the equipments have grown old. Earlier electricity was supplied at 25 cycles per second now it is 50 cycles per second, he added, thus the old equipments cannot be used.

Old Banglorian, M Sheshagiri Rao said, "The Hon. Sir John Hewett, member of the Viceroys' Council, who had been deputed by the Viceroy, inaugurated the electric lighting scheme of Bangalore City." He also added that due to the far-sightedness of Sir John, Mysore got power in 1908.

Moreover, Kolar was the first district to get power in 1902 because of its gold fields. They got power via a 75 KV line from the Shivasamudram hydro station. Bangalore then would get 33 KV transmission line from Shivasamudram.