Here are a couple CD 138.2 insulators on the top crossarm. According to finds (not from this pole) in the 1970s, the latter were made by the National Insulator Company. The Hingham system was originally owned by the Weymouth Light and Power Company and what you see here is among the town's purchase.

Click "Previous" for an overlook view of this pole.

The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP) began operation on April 1,1894 and was among the first public lighting systems that commenced operation that year in Massachusetts. By the end of 1894 their customer base increased to 96.

The newly-formed Lighting Board of Commisioners insisted that customers be billed by meter. Up until 1894 most were connected via flat rate depending upon the wattage and number of lightbulbs each customer had. Flat rate as such was relatively common practice in the earlier days of the electric utility industry, particularly with residential customers. A year later (April 1, 1895) all of the customers on the Hingham system were connected via meter according to the utility's annual town report. At the end of 1895 the town had 118 customers and 2,650 lightbulbs connected to its system.

Owing to increased customer load during 1895, particularly during July and August when summer homes were occupied, voltage fluctuations were taking place. This issue was described by the Hingham Light Plant's general manager such that: "the plant was taxed to its utmost capacity...Communication with the Weymouth Light and Power Company (the town's contracted electricity source) allieviated much of this problem since (they) procured an additional engine."

The Light Board commissioners stated in 1895 that "the rates for the past year have been maintained as formerly, but the town has introduced electric lighting for the benefit of its citizens, and neither to make money at their expense nor furnish light at less than cost, and, therefore as soon as experience demonstrates what the actual cost to the town will be, in justice to all, these rates will be so fixed as to give the light to citizens at actual cost of current, plus cost of maintenance...(and other expenses incurred)"

Many additional photographs, statistical data and folklore about this progressive, pioneer publicly-owned electric utility in Massachusetts is posted within this album here on ICON. This has been done in progressive yearly increments through the 1950s. Please use the search box above and type in "Hingham Light Plant" for other postings.

Click "Next" for a photo of one of the town very early utility's poles along with some fun and interesting reading about Hingham's system during 1896-1897. Enjoy :-)