As part of our 125th Anniversary celebration, we invite you to explore the people, projects, and progress that have shaped our Utility for more than a century.
125 Years of Service
1901 – 2026
1897
A wire from the generator at the Wollen Mill was connected to a home on the northwest corner of Bridge Street and Washington Avenue, owned by the Wittenbergs, becoming the first home with electric lights. The Wittenbergs threw a lawn party to celebrate.
1901
On February 27, 1901, an ordinance was passed by the Common Council to erect, maintain and operate an electric plant. The following month, the first electric arc lamp was hung over the intersection at Bridge Street and Washington Avenue. On August 6, 1901, crowds gathered downtown Cedarburg to marvel at 21 arc streetlights up and down Washington Avenue.
1923
In the early 1920s, clean water and waste disposal were added to the city. Six miles of water and sewer pipes, 60 fire hydrants and a water tower and equipment capable of pumping about 150,000 gallons of water a day were ready for use on January 21, 1923.
1930
As the demand for power increased, the utility expanded the plant and installed a diesel engine connected to a generator. By 1930, the utility boasted 845 electric customers, 138 streetlights and 456 water customers.
1976
The Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin formed the Generation and Transmission Committee that included Glen Frank, General Manager of Cedarburg Light & Water Utility. The work of this committee led to the creation of Wisconsin Public Power Incorporated. On April 20, 1976, WPPI was established as a joint action agency to purchase power on behalf of its member utilities.
1984
Cedarburg Light & Water Utility becomes one of the first utilities to purchase power from WPPI in 1981. The local power plant officially closed on August 31, 1984. Our crew continued to service a transformer on the former plant site, the actual building now houses an architectural firm.
2017
The utility upgraded from mechanical meters to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). AMI securely transmits meter readings remotely, improving billing accuracy and eliminating the need for meter readers to visit homes and businesses to record monthly electric and water use readings.
2024
Construction of the high-level pressure zone water tower was completed, providing water storage needed for enhanced fire protection and water pressure equalization in the northwest section of Cedarburg.