Editing Redlands, California (section)

===Electricity===
"History was made in the electrical industry July 27, 1892, when a franchise was granted to the Electric Light & Power Co., which was incorporated Oct. 6 and began building a powerhouse in [[Mill Creek (San Bernardino County)|Mill Creek]] canyon. Thus the groundwork was laid for the world's first [[Three-phase electric power|(three)-phase]]<!--Note - source misstates that it was two-phase--> transmission line, which brought electricity to Redlands and later became a unit in the [[Southern California Edison|Southern California Edison Co.]]"<ref name="Golden Jubilee 1938">"Golden Jubilee, Redlands, California: 1888-1938", Citrograph Printing Company, Redlands, California, 1938.</ref> The 250 kilowatt [[alternating current|AC]] Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant was designed by Almirian Decker.<ref>http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:Mill_Creek_No._1_Hydroelectric_Plant,_1893 IEEE Milestones, Mill Creek No. 1 Hydroelectric Plant, Retrieved January 4, 2012</ref> Electric [[arc lamp]]s were first illuminated over Redlands streets on August 5, 1893. George B. Ellis, one of seven men who spearheaded the undertaking, is largely credited with originating the plan.<ref name="Staff 1943, page 12" />

"The first line was extended from the Mill Creek powerhouse to East Citrus avenue, thence to Redlands and to Mr. Ellis' Terracina hotel. By September the company was advertising power for sale to the public. The firm boasted of ability to supply current enough for 55 arc lamps, and 1,500 homes."<ref name="Golden Jubilee 1938" /> Engineer O. H. Ensign was "largely responsible for the success of the undertaking." When gas lighting became available in Redlands in 1900, many homes already had electricity.<ref name="Staff 1943, page 12" />

"The same group of men in 1894 organized the Southern California Power Co. Later it was merged with the Edison Electric Co., of Los Angeles, a forerunner of the [[Southern California Edison|Southern California Edison Co]]."<ref name="Staff 1943, page 12" />