PG & E... proud sponsor of all Madera Chamber of Commerce Centennial Events and sponsor of all Centennial web pages on this website.  PG & E... supporting the City of Madera in it's Centennial Celebration.

The Madera Electric Company was established in 1893, and morphed into the Madera Light and Power Company in 1907. Madera Light and Power was then purchased by The San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation. The exact date of this is not precise from our history, but likely happened around 1910.

The electric industry in California made great strides between 1910 and 1920, and one of the most significant was the establishment of interconnections between separately operated electric systems. Essentially all the different electric components, from generating plants to transmission lines over an area of 89,000 square miles were tied together for the exchange of power.

In 1924 The San Joaquin Light and Power Company was taken over by Great Western. In 1938, PG&E absorbed Great Western which is when the city of Madera officially became a part of Pacific Gas and Electric company territory.

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A century ago, a group of visonaries saw an opportunity that would power California's development and growth and become the leading utility in the United States. They built an organization, PG&E, whose employees were passionate about powering the lives of its customers, the people and businesses of California.

A result of many mergers, Pacific Gas and Electric Company was founded just a few months before the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Courageous management and bold emergency measures brought the young company through the crisis.

The subsequent growth of the company is a record of dedicated leadership and constant expansion despite constant struggle. As the population and industries of California grew, power went farther and farther afield. New hydroelectric plants, natural gas from Texas, the depression, the fight against government control.....all contributed their part to the PG&E story.