Toronto Power Company Transformer House

The Toronto Power Company generating station was part of the early 20th centuries 'Electrical Revolution', which saw the distributed use of electricity directly into everyday life and helping to build the electronic age as we know it today. The station was designed by EJ Lennox in the Beaux-Arts style and built by the newly formed Electrical Development Company of Ontario. The lavishly appointed station supplied hydro-electric power from the mighty Niagara River to nearby Toronto.

TPC had a generating capacity of 137,500 horsepower (102,500 kW). The transformer house, as evidenced here, was not altogether so lavish but was an integral part of the operation. It was 554 m away from the station and was connected by 4 large cable conduits which supplied fifteen oil-immersed, water-cooled 2,670kv transformers. These were used to step up the 3-phase 12,000 volt alternator output to 60,000 volts in order to send the power some 130 Km to Toronto. The plant also provided 22Kv and 40Kv service depending upon transmission distance. The astute may notice the 2-phase portals in the building pictures. These fed 2,200 volt 2-phase power lines for local industrial use in both Canada and the United States.

The plant ceased operations on February 15, 1974 as Ontario Hydro looked to make better use of the available head pressure and water downriver at the Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations in Queenston. In addition, the plant produced 25 Cycle electricity which was by then, largely unused.