The Centerville
Powerhouse
California's energy resources during the second half of the nineteenth century were wood, imported coal, kerosene, and
gas manufactured from coal or crude oil. Steam generated electrical systems were installed in many communities, but
reliance on coal or wood for fuel made them expensive to operate.
In the 1890's the state's engineers drew on extensive and sophisticated water delivery system and hydraulic power
technology developed by Sierra Nevada gold miners, and became national pioneers in hydroelectric power. By the 1920's they
provided cheap power to the communities throughout the state through extensive interconnected electrical power systems.
Eighteen powerhouses produced power from water tumbling from the mountains by 1900, and the Centerville powerhouse was
the latest of these plants. It's location was determined by its water supply.
During the 1880's, the Chico Gas Company supplied manufactured illuminating gas to businesses and for street lighting.
In 1889 the company added a small steam generated electrical plant to its system, but the company was not commited to
electric power. By October 1889 some of the local residents were installing private gas plants to avoid the company's
exorbitant gas prices.
Local entrepreneurs accuired the abandoned Bostwick Gold Mining Company (constructed in 1887) ditch and flume,
and plans were laid for building the powerhouse on Butte Creek. In April 1899 the Butte County Electric Power and Lighting
Company (BCEP&L) was incorporated. The Chico Gas Company responded to the threatened competition with the construction of a new,
more efficient gas plant. E.W. Sutcliffe, a recently retired electrical engineer of Sacramento's Central California Electric
Company was hired as BCEP&L's chief engineer, the Hupp mining canal was acquired, and construction began on the
hydroelectric project.
The company was negotiating with gold dredgers near Oroville and speculating about establishing an electric street railway
in Chico. Construction was slow, since there was a large demand for electrical machinery around the state. In September Chico
city officials were forced to renew their contract for lighting with the Chico Gas Company, because the hydroelectric plant was
still not completed.
The first testing of the penstock was overseen by engineer Sutcliffe on December 22, 1889. The Centerville School
house was the first to receive power on Christmas Eve 1899. On May 23, 1900 the Centerville hydroelectricity lit incandescent
lamps at the downtown office of the newly formed Chico Light and Power Company.
The powerhouse, a utilitarian reinforced concrete structure 110 ft. long and 32 ft. wide, contained two 58 inch Pelton water
wheels. Water was directed to them down the overhauled canal and flume system, into the forebay, which was an
enlargement of the end of the Centerville canal.
Two transmission lines ran from the powerhouse, one a distance of fourteen miles to Chico, and a second some 32 miles
to the gold dredges operating on the Feather River near Oroville. In August 1901 the line to Chico was extended forty miles to Colusa,
and an independent line was added from the powerhouse to a junction with the Chico-Colusa line.
The Valley Counties Power Company, created in 1902 as a part of De Sabla's activities in the area, purchased BDEP&L
and the Centerville powerhouse. By 1904 the BCEP&L system, along with the De Sabla project, was a part of the California Gas
and Electric Corporation (CGEC), and a second 24-inch penstock was installed at Centerville.
Over the years the Centerville plant has been improved. In 1928 the two original 24-inch penstocks were replaced with a 30-inch
pipeline.In June 1959 the plant was converted to semi-automatic operation,
and within a few years the associated buildings were removed along with unused equipment.
Between 1900 and 1959, the Centerville powerhouse played an important part in the lives of Butte Creek residents.
Jobs were provided for many men whose dreams of gold had panned out. The powerhouse required a foreman, lineman, machinist,
three shifts of plant operators, ditch tenders, and occasionally general laborers. Several workers lived in cottages surrounding
the powerhouse. The children of the workers attended the nearby Centerville school.
The Centerville Powerhouse is not open to the public, but to
learn more about it, visit the
Centerville Colman Memorial Community
Museum
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