1892 - Southern California Takes the Lead

Power generated at the "Pomona" hydroelectric plant in San Antonio Canyon was transmitted 28 miles to San Bernardino, CA at 10,000 Volts. A second line ran 14 miles to Pomona. The project was so daring that the Westinghouse Company refused to bid on supplying equipment for it. William Stanley, who owned a highly respected company in the field, said, "If they won't do it, we will!" His reputation carried so much weight that Westinghouse agreed, not only to supply the machinery, but to guarantee its performance as well. Electrical World called it "The most important electric power transmission plant yet undertaken in this country."

CD 244 Much of what later became standard practice was developed in a trial-and-error manner at this project. Its success emboldened entrepreneurs everywhere.

A special insulator, now known as the CD 244 "Pomona," was designed for the line. It was made of "clear flint glass," but the few that have been recovered are all purple, presumably from exposure to sunlight. The insulator was specified to have an oil cup, but the supplier notified the enterprise that a serious delay would result, so the oil cup was forgone. The CD 244 was one of the insulators used in the famous Telluride, CO tests of 1895-6.