Long Island Lighting Company
Encyclopedia
The Long Island Lighting Company, or LILCO [ "lil-co" ], was an electrical power company
and natural gas
utility for the communities of Long Island
, New York
, serving 2.7 million people in Nassau
, Suffolk
and Queens Counties.
LILCO was the original power utility for Long Island
from 1911 until 1998. It was founded by Ellis Laurimore Phillips, an engineer
, and a group of New York City
investors, including George W. Olmsted
, when they purchased four small electric companies in Amityville
, Islip, Northport
and Sayville
.
Almost from its inception, LILCO's rate payers and local politicians were upset by E. L. Philips' annual salary of $5,000(US), an unheard of sum in 1915, when he voted himself this sum.
LILCO is notable for building the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
. In the end, in a political decision based on evacuation plans, the plant operated only briefly and then was closed down and bought by the Long Island Power Authority
(LIPA), a public authority.
Hurricane Gloria
hit Long Island on September 27, 1985, but power was not fully restored until October 8. The bitterness from the delays in restoring power helped bring down the Shoreham Plant and eventually helped force the sale of the company.
On March 5, 1998, final Federal approval was received for LIPA to take over LILCO. The deal was completed later that year.
Electrical power industry
The electric power industry provides the production and delivery of electric energy, often known as power, or electricity, in sufficient quantities to areas that need electricity through a grid connection. The grid distributes electrical energy to customers...
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
utility for the communities of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, serving 2.7 million people in Nassau
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, Suffolk
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
and Queens Counties.
LILCO was the original power utility for Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
from 1911 until 1998. It was founded by Ellis Laurimore Phillips, an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, and a group of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
investors, including George W. Olmsted
George W. Olmsted
George W. Olmsted founded the Long Island Lighting Company in 1911. On June 17, 1904 he married Iva Catherine Groves. His parents were Fannie Frances and Samuel Ashbel Olmsted. He was related to landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, designer of New York City's Central Park.Olmsted was...
, when they purchased four small electric companies in Amityville
Amityville, New York
Amityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Islip, Northport
Northport, New York
Northport is a village in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 7,606. Students attend the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District....
and Sayville
Sayville, New York
Sayville is a hamlet and CDP in Suffolk County, New York, . Located on the south shore of Long Island in the Town of Islip, the population of the CDP was 16,735 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:...
.
Almost from its inception, LILCO's rate payers and local politicians were upset by E. L. Philips' annual salary of $5,000(US), an unheard of sum in 1915, when he voted himself this sum.
LILCO is notable for building the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant
The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant was a completed General Electric nuclear boiling water reactor located adjacent to the Wading River in East Shoreham, New York...
. In the end, in a political decision based on evacuation plans, the plant operated only briefly and then was closed down and bought by the Long Island Power Authority
Long Island Power Authority
The Long Island Power Authority or LIPA [ "lie-pah" ], a municipal subdivision of the State of New York, was created under the Long Island Power Act of 1985 to acquire the Long Island Lighting Company 's assets and securities...
(LIPA), a public authority.
Hurricane Gloria
Hurricane Gloria
Hurricane Gloria was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed during the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season and prowled the Atlantic Ocean from September 16 to September 28. Gloria reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale near the Bahamas, but weakened significantly...
hit Long Island on September 27, 1985, but power was not fully restored until October 8. The bitterness from the delays in restoring power helped bring down the Shoreham Plant and eventually helped force the sale of the company.
On March 5, 1998, final Federal approval was received for LIPA to take over LILCO. The deal was completed later that year.
See also
- Long Island Power AuthorityLong Island Power AuthorityThe Long Island Power Authority or LIPA [ "lie-pah" ], a municipal subdivision of the State of New York, was created under the Long Island Power Act of 1985 to acquire the Long Island Lighting Company 's assets and securities...
- Shoreham Nuclear Power PlantShoreham Nuclear Power PlantThe Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant was a completed General Electric nuclear boiling water reactor located adjacent to the Wading River in East Shoreham, New York...
- Northport Power StationNorthport Power StationThe Northport Power Station is a natural gas and conventional oil electric power generating station located on the north shore of Long Island, at Waterside Avenue & Eatons Neck Road in Northport, New York. The facility was built by the Long Island Lighting Company in 1967...