Electricity in Venezuela

The formal history of electricity in Venezuela began in 1888 in the city of Maracaibo, with the installation of The Maracaibo Electric Light Company (since 1940 transformed into electrical energy in Venezuela, (ENELVEN), founded by Jaime F. Carrillo to illuminate the main streets of the capital of Zulia. on October 24 of that year, 1888, the date on which celebrate the centenary of the birth of the hero Rafael Urdaneta Zulia, Maracaibo public lighting was opened, making this the first city ​​Venezuela that had electric lighting. Later, in 1889, entered service electrical system valencia, so this was not formed in the second city of the country that had electric lighting. The implementation of this initiative of electric lighting was American Michael F. Dooley, who installed a steam plant whose fuel was wood and coal. Later the plant was acquired by businessman Carlos Palacios, who transformed to produce hydroelectricity. Thus he founded the electricity valencia, CA A Caracas would electricity in 1897. Nevertheless, and in 1873, the Caracas had the opportunity to see first electric lighting, when the Venezuelan scientist Vicente Marcano installed a small device to illuminate some public sites on the name day of the Liberator (October 28). Something similar would happen ten years later, in 1883, when Carlos Palacios installed a small electric generator, driven by steam, to illuminate the night of June 24, the date on the centenary of the birth of Simon Bolivar commemorating the Guzmán Blanco theater (now municipal theater), boulevards and commerce Street. Later in 1896, they would enjoy a moment of electricity when the Bolivar square was lit to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre. However, all these attempts were transient electric lighting, as the capital alone is not established but a power in the late nineteenth century plant. On August 8, 1897 with the assistance of the then President, General Joaquín Crespo, the inauguration of the first hydroelectric plant in Venezuela, in the place known as "The Enchanted" in the guide you river was made near the population Santa Lucia, in the valleys of the Tuy (Miranda State). This new hydroelectric plant was conceived by the Venezuelan engineer Ricardo Zuloaga, who founded Company Limited 1895 Electricidad de Caracas, inspired by the great utilities that were installed in the United States and France. After installation of the hydroelectric plant "Enchanted", began to settle small electric companies in almost all major towns in the country. Although, of course, they could only cover the lighting of the busiest public places. Subsequently the use of electricity was spreading throughout the country increased use in industrial and residential activities.