The Empire District Electric Company history

In 1913 "Old Kate" was supplemented by a 2,000-kilowatt low-pressure turbine that used the steam exhaust of the larger unit, creating one of the first combination engine turbo installations in the United States.

In 1935 the United States enacted the Public Utility Act, part of which allowed holding companies like Cities Service to own only one of the public utilities: electric light, power, or gas.

Then, in 1936, Empire acquired Mid-West Development Company.

1944 Cities Service spins off Empire.

After the government removed price supports for lead and zinc production, mining activity fell off somewhat in the Empire District but picked up again in 1950 when lead and zinc increased in price on their own and production was spurred without the need of a subsidy.

One of the generators was reengineered to add 7,000 kilowatts and a new 12,000-kilowatt combined-cycle gas turbine generator was put in operation in 1964.

1970 Asbury Generating Station becomes operational.

A second unit of the same size was put on hold when the company was able to procure 80 megawatts of power from a 650-megawatt Kansas City-area plant, but was eventually added in 1981.

Algonquin began over thirty years ago, in 1988, when four business partners saw an opportunity for a new business venture in the Independent Power Producer (IPP) industry.

The State Line Power Plant with a 98-megawatt combustion turbine was opened west of Joplin in 1995, and two years later the facility added a 150-megawatt combustion turbine.

As part of this effort, Empire launched a branding effort, introducing a new logo and a marketing slogan, "Services You Count On," in 1997.

In 2004, the Company expanded its reach into the wind power sector for the first time with the construction of a 100 MW wind farm located in St Leon, Manitoba, Canada.

In 2009, the Company’s water and wastewater utility systems were rebranded and re-launched as “Liberty Water” (later called Liberty Utilities), while its power generation assets were rebranded as “Algonquin Power Co.”

In 2010, Liberty expanded into other regulated utilities with the acquisition of California Pacific Electric Company, its first electric distribution utility in Lake Tahoe, California.

In 2014, the Company expanded into the solar power sector for the first time with the construction of its first solar facility in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.