The Development of Electric and Water Services in Burbank

1886	The Providencia Land, Water and Development Company is formed to serve the area which will eventually become the City of Burbank.
1911	The City of Burbank is incorporated.
1913	Burbank sells $20,000 in bonds to purchase the existing electric facilities. Burbank sells $50,000 in bonds to purchase the existing water facilities from L.C Brand and El Miradero Water Company. The Public Service Department (PSD) begins operations.
1913	The first power is distributed within the limits of the City of Burbank, supplied by the Southern California Edison Company.
1914	The domestic water works system is established.
1916	Additional bonds are approved for building additional electric distribution facilities. Power was purchased from the Southern California Edison company via McNeil Distributing Station on Chandler Blvd.
1927	In January, when the Charter of the City of Burbank was enacted, the rules and regulations guiding the Public Service Department were developed. PSD administration is under the direction of the City Manager and the Burbank City Council.
1928	Burbank is one of the first 13 cities to join the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). MWD is destined to become the largest supplier of water in the world.
1931	The City enters into a 50-year contract for energy from Hoover Dam to the extent of 5,109 kilowatts of demand and 25 million kilowatt-hours per year. At the time, experts thought this was a foolish plan.
1934	Negotiations were completed for the purchase of some of the remaining Edison facilities at a cost of $90,000.
1937	The first power from Hoover Dam is distributed over Burbank’s own lines.
1941	Magnolia No. 1 (10,000 Kilowatts), Burbank’s first steam unit is placed in operation in October. Magnolia No. 2 (10,000 kilowatts) went into service a year later. The Santa Monica Feeder is completed with three inter-connections with Burbank’s water system.
1943	Water consumption has increased 520 percent over the last 20 years, while the population has increased only 414 percent, largely as a result of rapid industrial growth during World War II.
1947	The Valley Pumping Plant is constructed.
1948	Magnolia No. 3 steam unit (20,000 kilowatts) is placed in service.
1949	The administration building is completed in July replacing a small wood and stucco building which had been in use for over 27 years.
1953	Magnolia No. 4 steam unit (30,000 Kilowatts) is placed in service.
1955	Reservoir Numbers 4 and 5, with 11 million and 25 million gallon capacity, respectively, are constructed and placed into service.
1958	Burbank citizens approve a charter amendment authorizing a transfer of funds to Burbank’s General Government of two percent of electrical sales for street lighting purposes and five percent of water sales in lieu of taxes.
1959	The Olive Power Plant is constructed and Olive No. 1 steam unit (42,000 kilowatts) is placed into service.
1968	Exchange Agreement for 40 MW of Pacific Northwest Power executed with Bonneville Power Administration. Necessary for use of DC Intertie.
1969	Magnolia No. 5 gas turbine (17,000 Kilowatts) is placed into service.
1970	Pacific Northwest-Southwest DC Intertie placed in operation. (Burbank’s share is 56 megawatts.)
1972	Olive No. 3 gas turbine (22,000 kilowatts) is placed into service.
1975	Olive No. 4 gas turbine (31,000 kilowatts) is placed into service.
1977	The Public Service Department Advisory Board is established to assist the City Council in decisions relating to the functions of the Public Service Department.
1980	A major fire burns through the hillside area of Burbank in November. The roof of Reservoir No. 1 is destroyed and the sidewalls are damaged. The City submits a claim to the Federal Emergency Management Association for financial assistance.
1982	1982 Magnolia No. 1 and Magnolia No. 2 units are retired.
1985	The first 12,470 volt station begins operation (San Jose). This begins an effort to convert the electric distribution system from 4,160 volts to 12,470 volts.
1985	DC Intertie voltage upgrade from 400kV to 500kV is completed (Burbank’s line capacity is now 70 megawatts).
1986	The first fiber-optics link is installed by PSD to Information Systems. Local production of groundwater for City domestic use ends in July due to volatile organic compound contamination from local industry run-off.
1987	The Intermountain Power Project is completed. Burbank’s 67,000 kilowatt share of this 1,600,000 kilowatt coal plant will supply up to 50% of the City’s energy. The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) issues a clean up and abatement order to Lockheed Aeronautical Co. for clean up of various Burbank properties.
1987	A “renewal” agreement is signed with Western Area Power Administration for Hoover Dam power for 5,125 kilowatts of capacity and associated energy. An “up-rating” agreement is signed for an additional 15,000 kilowatts of Hoover Dam Power, with very little associated energy, which raises the total Hoover entitlement to 20,125 kilowatts by 1993.
1988	25-year Power Sales agreement is signed with Portland General Electric for 10,000 kilowatts of capacity and exchange energy.
1988	Burbank executes a 20-year, 40,000 kW power sales/exchange agreement with Bonneville Power Administration. (Successor to 1968 agreement).
1989	DC Intertie Expansion to 3,100 MW completed (Burbank’s line capacity now 105 MW). Reservoir No. 1 is rehabilitated and returned to service in June.
1990	The City signs the EPA Consent Decree for groundwater clean up in the Burbank area.
1991	Natural gas pipeline capacity is acquired on the PGT/PG&E Pipeline Expansion Project. The City signs the EPA Consent Decree for groundwater clean up in the Burbank area.
1992	The new “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition” (SCADA) system is completed. The EPA Consent Decree is entered in Los Angeles Federal District Court.
1992	The Granular Activated Carbon Treatment Plant comes on line, treating contaminated groundwater. The system produces approximately 12% of Burbank’s water supply.
1992	PSD completes a revenue bond sale of $17 million for the expansion of electric capital facilities and $10 million for the expansion of domestic and reclaimed water systems.
1993	Natural gas pipeline capacity is acquired on the El Paso Pipeline System. The City begins construction of the EPA Consent Decree Project, which will include a sixth interconnection to MWD. The City receives approval for a State Water Reclamation Loan for the expansion of the reclaimed Water System.
1995	The City begins operation of the expanded Reclaimed Water System with service to the De Bell Golf Course and the landfill.
1996	The initial Citywide Fiber Optic System is placed into operation. The City begins to receive treated groundwater from the EPA groundwater Recovery Treatment Plant under the provisions of the Consent Decree.
1996	The Mead/Phoenix and Mead/Adelanto Transmission Projects placed in operation. Burbank’s share is 35 megawatts & 94 megawatts, respectively.
1996	AB 1890 deregulating California’s electric industry is approved.
1997	Fiber Optic System interconnected with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The City signs the EPA Consent Decree II which will cover the operation and maintenance of the Groundwater Recovery Treatment Plant until the year 2018.
1997	The first electric station is completed that is dual purpose, serving both a major company (Walt Disney) and the surrounding neighborhoods. It is the 12,470-volt, 60 MVA Keystone Distributing Station.
1998	PSD Competitiveness Transition Plan approved by City Council.
1998	Magnolia No. 3 steam units are retired.
2000	2000 Magnolia Power Project is created. A major construction project of the Southern California Public Power Authority, this 310-megawatt combined cycle generating unit will serve the cities of Burbank, Anaheim, Glendale, Pasadena, Cerritos and Colton.
2001	PSD changes its name to Burbank Water and Power.
2001	BWP unveils the world's first commercial landfill power plant using Capstone microturbine technology. Ten microturbines run on naturally occurring landfill gas, producing 300 kilowatts of renewable energy for Burbank.
2002	Lake One, a modern 47 MW peaking unit, is placed in operation. The import capacity of RSE is more than doubled.
2002	2002 BWP installs two hydro generators at the Valley Pumping Plant. High pressure water is used to run two turbine generators, producing enough renewable electricity annually to run up to 200 Burbank households.
2002	BWP begins an industry first treatment of reclaimed water by installing an innovative Reclaimed Water Treatment System for our on-site power plants. This system produces ultra pure water, displacing all need for potable (drinking) water in BWP power plants.
2005	Magnolia No. 4 and Magnolia No. 5 units are retired.
2005	Upgrade and expansion of the landfill power plants takes place, resulting in total production of 550 kilowatts of energy produced from a renewable resource.