Home ›
About Us ›
Historical Time Line

Historical Time Line

Maine Public Service Company
Operations Center, Presque Isle
Late 1880's
Arthur R. Gould acquires 90% of the stock of Presque Isle Electric Light Company.
1903
Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., is organized.
1905
Arthur Gould acquires stock in the Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., and is authorized to operate in the State of Maine. ME&NB acquires the Presque Isle Electric Light Company and Fort Fairfield Electric Company.
1906
Arthur Gould is elected Managing Director.
1907
The power plant and dam at Aroostook Falls in New Brunswick are completed and placed in service.
1910
Power from this plant is being supplied to: Presque Isle, Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill, Easton, Maple Grove, Bridgewater, Monticello, Andover, and Perth, New Brunswick.
1912
A transmission line is built from Van Buren to Caribou providing service to the Aroostook Valley Railroad and the Caribou Water, Light, and Power Company. ME&NB acquires Northern Aroostook Electric Company. L. E. Gould, son of Arthur Gould, becomes a Director of the Company.
1913
A two-tenement house is built to facilitate the plant operators in New Brunswick.
1915
The Maine Public Utilities Commission is empowered to regulate Maine utilities.
1917
The Company is incorporated under the name of Gould Electric Company.
1918
The New Brunswick company is split into two separate corporations: the Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., and Gould Electric Company.
1919
The plant at Aroostook Falls, New Brunswick, is officially referred to as "Tinker."
1922
Construction of the State Street administrative office is completed.
1924
Central Public Service Co. of Chicago acquires all of the capital stock of Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company and Gould Electric Company for $2,000,000.
1926
Lawrence Alline becomes CEO of the Companies.
1926-1962
The majority of Aroostook County towns’ electric companies are acquired by Maine Public Service Company.
1928
A new holding company, Maine Public Utility Company, is organized to bring smaller companies into the Gould Electric Company and Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Limited.
1928
Gould Electric Company purchases several smaller companies at Ashland, Easton, Fort Kent, Katahdin, Maple Grove, Mapleton, Milo, Prestile, Sherman, Stockholm, and Westfield.
1929
Gould Electric Company becomes Maine Public Service Company and is granted charter rights for all of Aroostook County.
1930
Maine Public Service Company acquires the stock of Bridgewater Electric.
1942
Maine Public Service Company becomes the parent company and
Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company the subsidiary.
1943
Maine Public Service Company acquires Caribou Water, Light, and Power Company.
1946
Death of Arthur Gould, CEO from 1903 -1926.
1947
The Company's stock is first distributed to the public and the first Annual Report is published.
1948
The Company completes the installation of 7,000 kW of diesel generating capacity at the Caribou Plant.
1949
The Houlton diesel plant is purchased.
1950
The 7,500 kW steam plant at Caribou is completed.
1951
Maine Public Service Company acquires Fort Fairfield Light and Power Company.
1955
The 12,650 kW Caribou Steam Unit is completed.
1960
Washburn Electric Company is merged into Maine Public Service Company.
1962
Maine Public Service Company acquires Limestone Electric Company and Mars Hill Electric Company.
1962
The Operations Center on Parkhurst Siding Road is completed.
1965
Addition of Generating Unit #5 (the "C. Hazen Stetson Addition") to Tinker Hydro Plant is completed.
1966
Maine Public Service Company joins CMP and BHE to organize the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company for the purpose of constructing a nuclear generating plant at Wiscasset, Maine.
1971
The Company moves its Caribou Operations into a new Avon C. Brown building.
1972
The Maine Yankee nuclear plant at Wiscasset, Maine, put into service, with MPS as a 5% owner. The Company comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission (now FERC).
1973
Employees vote for the first time to be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO.
1977
The Company enacts an employee stock ownership plan.
1978
The W.F. Wyman oil-fired generating unit in Yarmouth begins operation, with MPS as a joint owner.
1983
G. Melvin Hovey is elected President and Chief Executive Officer of MPS upon the resignation of Ralph A. Brown.
1986
MPS finalizes the sale of its 1.46% ownership in the Seabrook nuclear plant to EUA Power Corporation.
1989
Northern District office is constructed in Fort Kent.
1990
Central District Office is constructed on Carmichael Street in Presque Isle.
1991
District Office is constructed in Caribou.
1997
Maine Yankee nuclear power plant permanently ceases operation.
1997
The Maine Legislature passes "An Act to Restructure the State's Electric Industry", ordering Maine Public Service Company to sell all of its generation assets. Under the new law, Maine Public Service Company provides transmission and distribution functions as a regulated company and power marketing is done by Energy Atlantic, an unregulated affiliate of MPS.
1997
Maine Public Service Company offers all of its generating capacity for sale, including its Canadian subsidiary, Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd.
1998
MPS announces proposed generating asset sale to WPS Power Development, Inc. (WPS-PDI), located in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
1999
MPS establishes a retail/wholesale competitive electricity subsidiary, Energy Atlantic, allowing the Company to sell electricity throughout the State of Maine.
2000
On March 1, 2000, deregulation becomes official in Maine and Energy Atlantic, the only locally-owned and operated CEP in Maine, begins selling power statewide.
2002
MPS Board of Directors approves migration to a holding company to facilitate a diversified growth strategy, subject to shareholder approval.
2003
June 30, 2003, Maine & Maritimes Corporation becomes a holding company (MAM). MAM is a parent holding company for MPS, Energy Atlantic, LLC, and Maine and Maritimes Energy Services Co.
2003
The Maricor Group is formed November 6, 2003. Headquartered in Presque Isle, Maine, TMG offers facilities engineering solutions to customers in the U.S. and Canada. Maine Public Service, in conjunction with Northern Maine Development Commission, forms a public-private council, the Aroostook Partnership for Progress, to strengthen the economy within the region.
2004
TMG expands its reach into New England by acquiring RES Engineering, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts. MAM also invests 50% ownership in Maricor Properties, with Ashford Investments, Inc. MAM acquires Morris & Richard Engineering in Nova Scotia, Canada. MPS continues to implement automated meter reading technology.
2005
MAM forms Maricor Technologies, Inc, and acquires certain facilities lifecycle asset management software. MPS implements a 360-degree distribution and transmission inspection program, allowing for real-time maintenance and/or renewal of assets.
2006
MPS designs and constructs new transmission infrastructure for a 42-MW wind power facility in Mars Hill, Maine. In August, the former President and CEO of MAM resigns. Management reverses its growth strategy and begins to exit the unregulated businesses and focuses on utility and utility-related businesses.
2007
Brent M. Boyles is selected President and CEO of Maine & Maritimes Corporation to lead the Company in its new direction. Maine Public Service enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the State's largest electric utility to determine the feasibility of constructing a major transmission line, connecting Aroostook County with the New England electrical grid.
MPS Line Truck

Site Map | Disclaimer | Privacy | Ethics | Code of Conduct

Copyright © 1996-2008 Maine Public Service Company. All rights reserved.
"Maine Public Service Company" is a trade name of, and that name, as well as,
the Maine Public Service logo are service marks of, Maine Public Service Company, Presque Isle, Maine USA.

Maine Public Service Company is a subsidiary of Maine & Maritimes Corporation.

Late 1880's	Arthur R. Gould acquires 90% of the stock of Presque Isle Electric Light Company.
1903	Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., is organized.
1905	Arthur Gould acquires stock in the Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., and is authorized to operate in the State of Maine. ME&NB acquires the Presque Isle Electric Light Company and Fort Fairfield Electric Company.
1906	Arthur Gould is elected Managing Director.
1907	The power plant and dam at Aroostook Falls in New Brunswick are completed and placed in service.
1910	Power from this plant is being supplied to: Presque Isle, Houlton, Fort Fairfield, Mars Hill, Easton, Maple Grove, Bridgewater, Monticello, Andover, and Perth, New Brunswick.
1912	A transmission line is built from Van Buren to Caribou providing service to the Aroostook Valley Railroad and the Caribou Water, Light, and Power Company. ME&NB acquires Northern Aroostook Electric Company. L. E. Gould, son of Arthur Gould, becomes a Director of the Company.
1913	A two-tenement house is built to facilitate the plant operators in New Brunswick.
1915	The Maine Public Utilities Commission is empowered to regulate Maine utilities.
1917	The Company is incorporated under the name of Gould Electric Company.
1918	The New Brunswick company is split into two separate corporations: the Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd., and Gould Electric Company.
1919	The plant at Aroostook Falls, New Brunswick, is officially referred to as "Tinker."
1922	Construction of the State Street administrative office is completed.
1924	Central Public Service Co. of Chicago acquires all of the capital stock of Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company and Gould Electric Company for $2,000,000.
1926	Lawrence Alline becomes CEO of the Companies.
1926-1962	The majority of Aroostook County towns’ electric companies are acquired by Maine Public Service Company.
1928	A new holding company, Maine Public Utility Company, is organized to bring smaller companies into the Gould Electric Company and Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Limited.
1928	Gould Electric Company purchases several smaller companies at Ashland, Easton, Fort Kent, Katahdin, Maple Grove, Mapleton, Milo, Prestile, Sherman, Stockholm, and Westfield.
1929	Gould Electric Company becomes Maine Public Service Company and is granted charter rights for all of Aroostook County.
1930	Maine Public Service Company acquires the stock of Bridgewater Electric.
1942	Maine Public Service Company becomes the parent company and Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company the subsidiary.
1943	Maine Public Service Company acquires Caribou Water, Light, and Power Company.
1946	Death of Arthur Gould, CEO from 1903 -1926.
1947	The Company's stock is first distributed to the public and the first Annual Report is published.
1948	The Company completes the installation of 7,000 kW of diesel generating capacity at the Caribou Plant.
1949	The Houlton diesel plant is purchased.
1950	The 7,500 kW steam plant at Caribou is completed.
1951	Maine Public Service Company acquires Fort Fairfield Light and Power Company.
1955	The 12,650 kW Caribou Steam Unit is completed.
1960	Washburn Electric Company is merged into Maine Public Service Company.
1962	Maine Public Service Company acquires Limestone Electric Company and Mars Hill Electric Company.
1962	The Operations Center on Parkhurst Siding Road is completed.
1965	Addition of Generating Unit #5 (the "C. Hazen Stetson Addition") to Tinker Hydro Plant is completed.
1966	Maine Public Service Company joins CMP and BHE to organize the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company for the purpose of constructing a nuclear generating plant at Wiscasset, Maine.
1971	The Company moves its Caribou Operations into a new Avon C. Brown building.
1972	The Maine Yankee nuclear plant at Wiscasset, Maine, put into service, with MPS as a 5% owner. The Company comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Power Commission (now FERC).
1973	Employees vote for the first time to be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO.
1977	The Company enacts an employee stock ownership plan.
1978	The W.F. Wyman oil-fired generating unit in Yarmouth begins operation, with MPS as a joint owner.
1983	G. Melvin Hovey is elected President and Chief Executive Officer of MPS upon the resignation of Ralph A. Brown.
1986	MPS finalizes the sale of its 1.46% ownership in the Seabrook nuclear plant to EUA Power Corporation.
1989	Northern District office is constructed in Fort Kent.
1990	Central District Office is constructed on Carmichael Street in Presque Isle.
1991	District Office is constructed in Caribou.
1997	Maine Yankee nuclear power plant permanently ceases operation.
1997	The Maine Legislature passes "An Act to Restructure the State's Electric Industry", ordering Maine Public Service Company to sell all of its generation assets. Under the new law, Maine Public Service Company provides transmission and distribution functions as a regulated company and power marketing is done by Energy Atlantic, an unregulated affiliate of MPS.
1997	Maine Public Service Company offers all of its generating capacity for sale, including its Canadian subsidiary, Maine & New Brunswick Electrical Power Company, Ltd.
1998	MPS announces proposed generating asset sale to WPS Power Development, Inc. (WPS-PDI), located in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
1999	MPS establishes a retail/wholesale competitive electricity subsidiary, Energy Atlantic, allowing the Company to sell electricity throughout the State of Maine.
2000	On March 1, 2000, deregulation becomes official in Maine and Energy Atlantic, the only locally-owned and operated CEP in Maine, begins selling power statewide.
2002	MPS Board of Directors approves migration to a holding company to facilitate a diversified growth strategy, subject to shareholder approval.
2003	June 30, 2003, Maine & Maritimes Corporation becomes a holding company (MAM). MAM is a parent holding company for MPS, Energy Atlantic, LLC, and Maine and Maritimes Energy Services Co.
2003	The Maricor Group is formed November 6, 2003. Headquartered in Presque Isle, Maine, TMG offers facilities engineering solutions to customers in the U.S. and Canada. Maine Public Service, in conjunction with Northern Maine Development Commission, forms a public-private council, the Aroostook Partnership for Progress, to strengthen the economy within the region.
2004	TMG expands its reach into New England by acquiring RES Engineering, Inc., in Boston, Massachusetts. MAM also invests 50% ownership in Maricor Properties, with Ashford Investments, Inc. MAM acquires Morris & Richard Engineering in Nova Scotia, Canada. MPS continues to implement automated meter reading technology.
2005	MAM forms Maricor Technologies, Inc, and acquires certain facilities lifecycle asset management software. MPS implements a 360-degree distribution and transmission inspection program, allowing for real-time maintenance and/or renewal of assets.
2006	MPS designs and constructs new transmission infrastructure for a 42-MW wind power facility in Mars Hill, Maine. In August, the former President and CEO of MAM resigns. Management reverses its growth strategy and begins to exit the unregulated businesses and focuses on utility and utility-related businesses.
2007	Brent M. Boyles is selected President and CEO of Maine & Maritimes Corporation to lead the Company in its new direction. Maine Public Service enters into a Memorandum of Understanding with the State's largest electric utility to determine the feasibility of constructing a major transmission line, connecting Aroostook County with the New England electrical grid.