HISTORY OF THE PIQUA MUNICIPAL POWER SYSTEM
One hundred and ten years after Piqua was incorporated, by proclamation of the people, during
the Great Depression, and after many bitter arguments, the Piqua Municipal Power System came
into being. The plant was completely isolated, without any power supply interconnection from
other utilities. It went into service on a strictly competitive basis without a single customer, to
serve the other municipal functions and street lighting requirements.
Support for the municipal power plant began in the 1930’s. On the night of September 15, 1930
members of the city commission, then serving their first year in office following the adaption of
the Commission-Manager form of government, met. It was on this night that members of the
commission voted unanimously to adopt a motion directed to Dayton Power & Light Company
requesting that the company make some effort toward lowering the local light and power rates to
a point more in keeping with the times. October and November passed with no response from
DP&L, so on December 1st the commission passed a second resolution that was in the form of a
demand instead of a request for lower rates. This brought about a conference between City
officials and DP&L where just nine days later the city’s residential rates were dropped 9.5
percent. In addition, a revised commercial rate was promised. Lower rates took effect January 1,
1931, but the discontent was already building. A few weeks later C. E. Williams, a well known
realtor began circulating a petition asking the City of Piqua to investigate the possibilities of a
light plant. Soon afterwards the Lions Club endorsed the idea and the Citizens and Taxpayers
League, which backed the plan, was formed.
February 17, 1931 petitions containing 927 signatures asking for a survey were filed with the city
commission. Soon afterward Dayton Power and Light (which had been circulating counter
petitions) filed the petitions containing 3000 signatures opposing a light plant survey. On
February 25th DP&L announced a reduced commercial lighting schedule but as it proved, it was
too late.
In April of 1931 the city commissioners engaged the engineering firm of Burns and McDonnell
of Kansas City, MO to make a survey in Piqua. Burns & McDonnell completed their survey and
presented the city officials with figures and data to show that it would be possible to build either
a steam or diesel powered plant of sufficient size to serve local needs for a maximum of
$900,000. They also claimed that the plant could be operated to save consumers 26 percent on
their light and power bills while paying for its self in eight years.
On July 21, 1931 a petition, signed by 850 supporters asking that the light plant project be
submitted to a vote of the people at the coming November election was filed by the Citizens and
Taxpayers League. Just weeks before the petition was filed, negotiations were reopened with the
Dayton Power & Light Company for further rate reductions for Piqua. The utility company
offered the city a concession in the form of an attractive new street lighting proposition
providing a ten year contract. This was signed by city officials. Meanwhile, Burns and
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McDonnell’s printed report stated a power plant could be built for a cost of $810,000 and
suggested as an alternative that DP&L reduce their rates by 30 percent. In retaliation DP&L
hired special engineers to do a survey and a public meeting was held in the auditorium of Piqua
Central High School on September 10th. Over 600 people attended to hear the arguments of
Burns & McDonnell outpoint all that four engineers from the firm of Sanderson and Porter
(DP&L engineers) had to say. The following weeks were filled with an active campaign
between the Citizens and Taxpayers League and the DP&L Company fighting for and against the
light plant proposition which was soon to come before the voters. Members of the commission
went on record favoring the light plant and further recorded that if a plant was built the local rate
would be established on the low 5 cent rate as recommended by Burns & McDonnell. On the
November 3rd election the result was even more favorable than predicted by the optimistic Tax
League leader. The initial count showed 3090 approving the referendum to 1545 against. Every
one of the 23 precincts in the city voted favoring a municipal plant. A recount of the November
3rd votes failed to make any change in the results.
The first in a long series of court actions aimed at halting or delaying the light plant was filed in
common pleas court on December 15, 1931 by City Attorney Bernard S. Keyt in behalf of three
Piqua Taxpayers. Although in favor of the light plant, Mr. Keyt felt that he could best serve his
co-workers and the will of the electors in general by handling all such court actions. The
injunction case was heard before the common pleas court with the city winning and was
eventually carried unsuccessfully to the Court of Appeals and to the State Supreme court. Of the
six court actions brought to halt the light plant construction or financing, the city won out or
found some other method of getting around the situation in all but one. A Supreme Court ruling
prevented the sale of $675,000 in city notes designed to finance the plant construction in the case
of Mrs. Lois Post of Columbus. This decision came after city officials felt sure of the plant
financing following an agreement of the State Teachers Retirement organization and the Pension
Fund trustees to buy the whole issue. The teacher’s organization did buy $25,000 in notes but
this lawsuit kept them from carrying out the full agreement. While the matter was being fought
in court, City Manager, L. F. Whitney, and his co-workers displayed real ingenuity by selling the
notes in small lots, directly to contractors and others.
In June of 1932, for $5,500, the City purchased from Orr Felt and Blanket Company, a site at the
end of South Main Street. Contracts were awarded on June 7. August 31, 1932, during a ground
breaking ceremony that began a few minutes before ten o’clock in the morning, the first
distribution pole was set on the corner of Downing and South Streets. The construction of the
distribution system then began with a system of poles and wires erected covering the entire city.
The area south of the railroad was the first to be equipped. Employees were selected from the
unemployment lists and were hired at a minimum wage of 40 cents per hour. Experienced
linemen were hired at a rate of 85 cents per hour.
The five primary circuits of the distribution system were 4 wire, three phase, operating at 4,000
volts. The circuits were interconnected through oil switches and knife blade disconnect switches
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so that each circuit could be sectionalized and fed by any one of the other four. The street lights
were fed from six series circuits; four serving the overhead lights and two for the boulevard
system.
July 29, 1932, a new organization of municipalities united to promote municipal ownership of
public utilities. This plan was put together in a meeting in Columbus of 71 representatives of
Ohio cities and towns. Two-hundred municipals were invited and fifty responded. The meeting
was called by M.C. Irwin. He was the Superintendent of the municipal electric plant in Norwalk.
Mr. Irwin was elected secretary and Piqua’s L. G. Whitney was elected as Chairman of the Ohio
Municipal League.
The summer of 1932 brought two more injunctions against the light plant project; one filed by
Charles R. Murray of Piqua and another by Robert Ashforth of Riverside Drive. In retaliation
city officials applied for and were granted a temporary injunction in the Montgomery County
Court to prevent opponents from “meddling” and otherwise interfering with the project. Work
was started on the site during the weeks of late fall and early winter. In December of 1932 a new
obstacle was introduced when local citizens opposing the project demanded a special audit of all
city records in connection with the light plant. The audit was made and on January 11, 1933, in a
report, city officials were cleared of any wrong doing. More contracts were awarded in March of
1933. On March 24, 1933, the first steel was erected and on the following day ouster
proceedings to eliminate the Dayton Power and Light Company as a competitor of the municipal
plant were filed in common pleas court but were never pressed. Rates with a five cent base were
officially adopted by the city commission on March 18, 1933. City Manager L. G. Whitney
attempted to secure power on a temporary basis from the Troy municipal plant and submitted a
proposition to that effect that was refused by Troy officials.
The Piqua Power Plant was built at well under $100,000.00 below budget, at less than
$700,000.00. After two years of adverse conditions and struggles, every city commissioner and
every city official along with four executives of the administrative body of the city should be
complimented for their record of accomplishment. Without the “never-say-die” driving force of
City Manager Whitney, along with the determination of Public Works Director Montgomery,
Finance Director Baldwin, and Law Director Keyt, the municipal light plant might not have been
built.
As part of the city’s power plant project new street lighting was installed in the city. Charles
Helman, a Piqua draftsman, designed the downtown islands which are considered one of the
greatest improvements in connection with the new light plant. Four attractive concrete islands,
each centered with a towering streetlight standard bearing two lights marked the intersection of
Main and High Streets in the public square. The city’s new lights were given a final test on
October 12, 1933 and again that night, coupled with the DP&L lights that were still burning for
the last time. This lit up the city like never before. The Piqua Daily Call reported that
“Hundreds of interested citizens were out touring the streets….and admiring the new lights and
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comparing them with the Dayton Power & Light system that has been serving the community for
many years.” The power plant’s first paying customer was the Lange Products Company
brewery on Spring Street, where the first service lines were connected the morning of October
13.
The Distribution & Service Department in connection to the municipal light and power plant was
to be operated by the city with the Superintendent of Distribution and Service being W. O. Cobb.
Serving under him in the service department was Wilbert A. Lewis, one of the best known
electricians in the city. His main duties were the installation and servicing of power connections
and other general service work; Albert H. Ranson, who was in charge of general service. He had
32 years of service on power and light and telephone servicing; Ray J. Brown who was
recognized as the best authority on electrical refrigeration in the city. He was employed by
DP&L first as a meter reader and for 5 ½ years as service and repair expert on refrigeration and
all electrical appliances. For the service department, the city purchased two new Dodge sixcylinder 1 ½ ton trucks equipped with ladder, tool and supply carrying equipment. The trucks
were painted a bright red with gold and black trim.
The dedication of the new Power and Light Plant was part of a three day celebration which was
one of the largest celebrations in the history of Piqua. The celebration was called the “Pageant of
Progress”. Invitations were sent far and wide to city officials and citizens in every town, city,
village, and community, as well as residents of rural sections, to come to Piqua on October 25,
26, and 27, 1933. The event began at noon, on Wednesday, October 25th with a large National
Recovery Act (NRA) parade beginning at North and Main Streets, going south to South Street,
then west on South St. to Wayne, then back north on Wayne St. to High Street. The parade
consisted of floats, cars, trucks, marching delegations, musical organizations. Many contest and
activities were held that evening in the downtown area. The celebration continued Thursday
with a concert on the Public Square followed by a parade from the public square to the Light
Plant. A second concert which lasted 30 minutes was held in the parking lot of the Light Plant.
Carl D. Thompson from Chicago was the guest speaker, along with city officials giving the
dedication of the Light Plant. Immediately following the dedication was a large display of
fireworks. The Piqua Daily Call reports the dedication as “striking and impressive.” The
celebration concluded on Friday, October 27. School was cancelled so families could attend the
big Mardi Gras festivities downtown.
While operating under the supervision of City Manager Whitney, Walter T. Meseck was hired as
the Power Plant’s Chief Engineer. The plant consisted of two 4,000 kilowatt units which carried
a load of 2,500kW units its first year. By 1936 the three year old utility was serving 4,242
customers, out of the city’s 5,000 customers and having a demand of 3,200 kilowatts. This load
represented about 80 percent of the entire load requirements for the community. In 1937-38 the
Piqua Power Plant began selling wholesale power to the newly created Pioneer Rural Electric
Co-operative. Load growth and the newly acquired demands of the REA dictated a need of
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additional generating capacity. Therefore, a new 4,000 kW generating unit was installed in 1939
and put into service in 1940.
In 1942 the Power Plant’s Chief Engineer’s position was replaced. To help with the increasing
responsibilities of the growing power system, and the water plant, the city commission created
the position of Director of Utilities. A well know electrical engineer, John Gallagher, who
owned his own engineering firm Gallagher and Associates, was hired to fill this spot. John
Gallagher was very instrumental in the future development of the Piqua Power System.
In 1943 the power plant expanded its services to include the sale of high pressure steam for
heating and process work to industries that were located within 1,000 feet of the plant. By 1945
the steam distribution system was extended to industry then operating within 2,500 feet of the
plant, and to Bennett School.
In 1944 Mr. Gallagher presented a detailed load forecast and report to the City Manager and the
Commission for each year up to and including 1950. This report recommended the second plant
addition. Quick action by the City Manager and the Commission saved the citizens of Piqua
over $500,000.00. The new addition tripled the size of the original plant, tripled the steam
generating capacity and increased the total capacity of the turbo-generators. It also provided
space for another steam generating unit and turbo-generator. The building addition was
completed in June, 1947. The steam generating unit was placed in service in October, 1947, and
the new turbo-generator unit was placed in service in January, 1948. Electrical rates in Piqua
were lower than those of 90% of all Ohio communities of 2,500 population or more. Power
Plant additions were constructed again in 1952 and in 1961.
By the early 1960’s the distribution system consisted of approximately 366 miles of lines and
147 miles of poles. It kept pace with the growth of the power plant and the needs of the
community. In 1957 three main substations were constructed and the construction of a 13,800
volt loop sub-transmission system about the city began. The final links of the 13.8kV system
were placed in service in August of 1967. The original 4kV system and the new 13.8kV system
had a load carrying capability of approximately 65,000 kilowatts.
The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was financed by the United States Atomic Energy
Commission as part of their nuclear demonstration program. In 1956 Piqua was one of seven
organizations which filed proposals with the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) for licensing
and the building of an organic moderated atomic nuclear plant under the United State
government’s experimental program. The atomic reactor project was designed to construct,
utilize and understand the abilities of a small nuclear reactor within communities. The search for
an efficient atomic power reactor to provide for sparsely populated areas was just beginning.
The AEC announced that 3 co-operatives, 3 municipalities, and a university had met the deadline
for licenses and government assistance in building the power plants of less than 50,000 kW
capacity. On June 18, 1957, John Gallagher was a witness before a joint Senate – House sub5
committee hearing in Washington D.C. for the AEC small nuclear plant program. Mr. Gallagher
put forth an impressive argument as to why Piqua should receive the nuclear plant. Piqua’s
selection for the project is credited largely to Utilities Director, John Gallagher. Gallagher
received the American Public Power Associations award for developing new sources of electrical
power. The APPA said that without Gallagher’s persistent efforts municipalities would not be
represented in the United States atomic power program.
A nuclear plant bill proposed by the AEC was passed by congress on August 23, 1957 and was
sent to President Dwight Eisenhower to sign. The bill specifically earmarked $11,465,000.00 for
the nuclear reactor plant for the City of Piqua, according to a message received from
Congressman William McCulloch. Piqua City Manager Robert Hance, Jr., Utilities Director
John Gallagher, and Piqua Law Director Richard Wilson testified before the Joint Congressional
Atomic Energy subcommittee on May 23, 1958. After hours of public hearings concerning
health and safety aspects and months of debates on the design and location, groundbreaking
ceremonies were held the second week in July, 1959. Construction began. When the plant was
completed it was estimated to produce 260 pound of enriched uranium to do the work of 160
million pounds of coal.
The reactor was in full operation by November, 1962. The nuclear plant was producing 11,400
kilowatts of the city’s needs by that date.
The City of Piqua assumed reactor operational responsibility on a five year renewable contract
basis in February, 1964. The Municipal Utility was completely responsible for reactor operation
and the transmission of reactor steam from the reactor site on the east side of the Miami River to
the Power Plant turbines, a distance of 1,400 feet. Excess reactor costs over conventional steam
generation using fossil fuels were paid by the A.E.C. The unit had a steam generating capability
equal to 11,500 kilowatts.
As nuclear reactor technology was advancing the Piqua plant was quickly becoming outdated.
The plant was considered inefficient as the cost for the fuel rose rapidly. The Piqua plant was
producing 15 kilowatts while the Department of Energy’s newer plants were producing over
upwards of 1,000 megawatts.
On May 21, 1964, the reactor was closed for refueling. The International Atomic Energy
Commission placed Piqua’s plant, along with three others in the United States, under
“international security measures” on June 6, 1964.
The reactor operated successfully for two years through January 1966. Then in 1966 the Piqua
nuclear plant was shut down again. Initially this was done, so was said, for refueling of the
reactor core. Normally, this would take only a matter of months. The reactor remained shut
down for almost two years due to problems with the basic changes in the fuel elements and other
technical matters. The reactor Superintendent, Dennis Ziemann stated that the reactor was a
prototype design which was built to find where the problems were. With a little over a year left
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in the contract and more than $26,000,000 spent on the investment through the Atomic Energy
Commission, the AEC announced on December 13, 1967 its termination of its contract with the
City of Piqua for the operation of its “demonstration” plant. It was later learned that the
“shutdown” was also due in part to economic trends in Congress and funding was cut off to the
AEC. The program to develop organic cooled reactor concepts was phased out and the AEC
terminated its contract with the City of Piqua effective June 30, 1968. The dismantling of the
mechanical components within the reactor did not start until after the official contract ended.
As the dismantling began, employees were phased out. Enriched uranium fuel rods and other
high-level radioactive waste were shipped to dumps in New York and Washington states. The
rest of it, including the reactor, was sealed in steel, silica sand and 8 feet of concrete, beneath the
dome. The U.S. Department of Energy owns the Piqua Plant and its radioactive waste vault but
has no plans to do anything except inspect it annually to make sure the seal is secure. In 2018 it
is to be turned over to the city of Piqua and 68 years after that it should be safe (according to
1970 standards). According to Rich Freeman, project manager of the Department of Energy,
there will be a deed restriction that precludes ever breaching that concrete barrier.
Piqua renamed itself from the “Atomic City” to the “City of Opportunity”. By October 1969, the
Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was turned into a warehouse for the Service Department of the
Piqua Power System. A doorway large enough for a truck to pass through had to be cut through
the 36 inch thick concrete and steel plate wall. A 30 ton crane had to be installed to raise and
lower supplies into the subterranean levels three stories down. Although the reactor building
represented a regression in warehouse design it did offer some advantages. Piqua’s electrical
distribution division was located in three scattered warehouses while now it would be centralized
under one dome. The move resulted in less vandalism. The four foot cement walkway which
carried the steam line between the reactor and the light plant, across the river, was completed in
August of 1961. This footbridge became the main access to the “Dome”. When the parking lot
on the west side of the river was completed, the lane along the east riverbank was closed to all
traffic except service trucks.
The experimental unit, which attracted visitors from Denmark, England, France, Belgium,
Switzerland, and Japan, was the first commercial organic moderated and cooled reactor in the
world, the first to generate superheated steam, the first to be operated by a municipal power
system, the first to use existing turbines designed for conventional facilities with reactor steam,
and the first unit to be built in an urban area. The Piqua unit made a major contribution to
reactor technology in general.
By 1963 the Piqua Municipal Power System consisted of three (3) divisions. These were
Maintenance Division, Operation Division, and Distribution/Service Division. The Director of
Utilities’ office was still located at the Power Plant. The Director of Utilities, along with the
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Chief Power Plant Electrician managed the Power Plant. The nuclear power facility was in
operation on the east side of the river. A new wastewater plant was built next to the nuclear
power facility in the early 1960’s and from 1968 through 1972 the offices of the Distribution
Superintendent (H. A. “Mac” McCann) and Assistant Distribution Superintendent (Marion
“Biddy” McClay) were located in the old sewage plant which was located south of the power
plant on S. Main St., in the area west of the footbridge. The line crews would report to the
distribution office (old sewage plant) for daily instructions, and then proceed to the white
wooden buildings, on the north side of the power plant, to get their material and trucks.
The power system was still selling power to Pioneer REA, which would feed customers as far
away as Urbana. Although not a major problem, it is interesting to note that the Piqua Municipal
Power System was receiving complaints from customers who requested to be disconnected or
switched to DP&L because they were afraid of radiation from the nuclear plant coming into their
house through their electric lines.
Also, it is interesting to note that in the early 1960’s traffic control was the responsibility of the
Assistant Distribution Supervisor (Biddy McClay). Biddy installed and repaired all the traffic
signals after taking over the responsibility from Ray Brown.
John P. Gallagher resigned from Director of Utilities in October of 1967. At that time, George
Crosby was named Assistant Director of Utilities until April, 1968, at which time he was named
Director. George Crosby had worked at the Water Plant from 1965, becoming Water Plant
Superintendent in 1966 through 1967.
The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was completely phased out by 1969. The power system used
the facility as a warehouse to store cable and material for the distribution division of the Power
Plant. The line crews were eventually moved across the river to also occupy the “Dome” as it
came to be known. The Distribution Division was run by the Distribution Supervisor. Under
him were the line supervisor, the foremen, and the crews. At the time, the Distribution
Supervisor answered to the Director of Utilities and the Power Plant Engineer.
In 1972 when all the Distribution/Service Department moved into the “Dome”, Bob Paisley
became the traffic control technician. His office was located on the second floor. When he was
not working on traffic control he worked with the line crews (mainly on underground). In 1979
traffic control was transferred to the Street Department. Bob Paisley left, taking a job in
Billings, Montana. Rich Donnelly was hired. He was relocated to a new fueling station that was
purchased by the City. The fueling station was the old Sohio Gas station that was located on the
northeast corner of Sunset and Covington Ave. Prior to the purchase of the Sohio Station the
fueling station was located at the Fire Department building, where the City Garage (performed
maintenance on City vehicles) was located. In 2009 Traffic Control was moved back to the
Power System.
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In 1974 the Director of Utilities, George Crosby, and his secretary were moved downtown into
the City Building and the Plant Engineer, Ray Brown, retired. A Power Plant Superintendent
(Bob Cameron) was hired to manage the Plant and the Dome. A new Power System Secretary
was also hired. With the retirement of Biddy McClay, Ed Alexander was promoted to
Distribution Supervisor. That year was saddened by the death of one of the linemen. He just
finished loading a line truck and had climbed into the back seat of the crew-cab, when he had a
massive heart attack. Ed Alexander administered CPR while emergency crews were called. Bob
Clark was dead before he left the dome.
Plans for a 69 KV tie line and loop around the city had been engineered by Pfeifer and Shultz
Engineering Company in 1972. A 69 KV Sub-station (Sub No. 4) was built in 1974, south of the
Power Plant, between the water tower and the gas turbine which was purchased and installed in
1973. This sub-station was to tie the plant to Dayton Power & Light in order to purchase power
and improve reliability. A 69 KV line was built from Sub No. 4 up to South Street to connect to
DP&L’s feed from Covington along Brown Pike. In reality, a campaign was under way to sell
the power system to DP&L as the city of Troy had recently done with their plant. As the tie line
was built, plant maintenance personnel were told to hold thing together with “bubble gum”.
Bare minimum purchases were allowed. Salaries were frozen. The City was in a financial bind.
In 1976, the plant secretary was moved to the Dome. The Account Clerk remained at the Power
Plant. The phones, payroll, and all information and files for the Distribution Department were
transferred to the Dome. Ed Alexander (Alex) was promoted to Distribution Superintendent. It
became necessary for Alex to by-pass the Plant Superintendent on many situations in order to
keep the lights on. The Distribution Department became more of a separate entity from the
Power Plant. Frebert Couchot was promoted to Distribution Supervisor, and Marion Estep
became Line Supervisor.
By 1977 many of the local industrialists expressed concern with the direction the City was
headed, especially with the thoughts of selling the power system to Dayton Power and Light.
The City was almost bankrupt with the power system loosing $3,000 a day due to a cut back in
its fuel adjustment charges in response to the Orr Felt class-action lawsuit. The lawsuit revealed
parts of the fuel adjustment were miscalculated and other parts included non-fuel cost. On June
2, 1977, the Power System was ordered to eliminate all weekend and holiday service calls. This
was in order to save money. If a serviceman was dispatched it was at the customer’s expense.
The City Commission began a massive layoff and firing of many individuals – mainly
department heads. The Power Plant Superintendent (Bob Cameron) was let go May 6, 1977. The
Director of Utilities (George Crosby) left May 26, 1977. His resignation was effective June 3,
1977 due to vacation.
With all the problems facing the power system, the fact that there was no power system
supervisor complicated matters. The City Manager, Wayne Barfels, was responsible for the
Power System as a whole since the Director of Utilities and the Power System Superintendent
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both left. It was Barfels’ idea to abolish the positions and to replace them with new positions of
Power System Director and Public Works Director.
Crosby’s responsibilities for water and sewage systems were assumed by the new position of
Public Works Director. Ray Miller, the City Engineer, was promoted to take over those duties.
Previously being the general manager of public utilities for the 80,000 population city of
Brownsville, Texas, Houston Elmo Hastings was hired and began work on September 19, 1977
as the first Power System Director. The City Commission approved the salary that Hastings was
offered making the power system director Piqua’s highest paid employee.
As the new power system director, Hastings had many responsibilities with which to deal.
These included negotiating wholesale power purchase contracts, healing the power system’s
financial ills, bringing the power plant out of its “mothballed state” and into compliance with
state and federal air pollution regulations, and dealing with the class-action lawsuit over Piqua’s
electric and steam rates. After a few months, Elmo decided that he did not want his office to be
located at the Power Plant and moved it to the Dome. He quickly took control and before long
the plant was once again generating electricity.
As the situation for the power system improved, the overall situation for the city of Piqua was
still troubling. On April 3, 1978, after a short executive session that followed the regular City
Commission meeting, Wayne Barfels announced his resignation, effective that night.
Commissioners accepted it without question and voted in Power System Director Elmo Hastings
as interim city manager. Commissioner Joe Goetz made the statement that “Confidence in city
government has got to be restored. To do that you’ve got to be effective, and Wayne had become
ineffective.”
Finance Director’s (Dick Reed) position had become very controversial and he was terminated.
Among other things, Hastings said his reasons for replacing Reed were that the city was nearly
bankrupt and Reed had failed to obey state laws, and city ordinances and covenants. Reed
agreed with him but said he broke some laws by necessity and with the knowledge of the city’s
financial attorneys. The citizens of Piqua presented the Commission with a petition to keep
Reed. It was agreed upon that he would remain with the City Finance Department, under the
direction of a new Finance Director. Interim City Manager, Elmo Hastings, hired Robert (Bob)
Slagle as Finance Director. He began work on June 26, 1978. In August of 1978 the City
Commission approved an ordinance appointing Houston Elmo Hastings as City Manager.
While Elmo was on vacation in Maine the union members of Local 101 of AFSCME voted to
strike at 4 a.m. on September 11, 1978. This strike centered around job bids not being awarded
to Union members. During a conversation with his daughter who lived in Piqua, Hastings
learned of the strike and returned home immediately. He arrived at the City Building on that day
to join an executive session commission meeting to discuss the strike. At 11:00 p.m. the
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employees returned to work after agreeing to meet with Hastings at 10 o’clock the following
morning to discuss their grievances.
At the Commission meeting, October 11, 1978, Hastings submitted a letter to the commission
where he requested to go back to his original position of Power System Director. He felt that he
would best serve the city there. As he stated to the commissioners, “There are people trained as
city managers and people trained as utility people – I am a utility people.” Although the
commissioners wanted him to stay on as City Manager it was agreed upon that H. E. Hastings’
request should be honored. Hastings agreed to continue as interim City Manager until one was
hired. Frank Patrizio, Jr. was hired as City Manager on January 15, 1979. He remained City
Manager until he retired on September 30, 1998.
Starting in January of 1980, a new, major sewer line to the wastewater system was being
constructed. This line was built passing along and through the lane to the Dome and then behind
the Dome to the Wastewater Plant. There was much dynamiting in this area to clear the way for
this construction. The phased-out nuclear plant had to be tested often for cracks in the concrete
which could result in radiation leaks. None were found. Distribution and Wastewater employees
had to drive through the quarry while the lane was torn up. The single lane was replaced by a
two lane road, “Bridge Street,” which was constructed to make driving safer and easier to get
back to the two city departments.
On a Friday night, February 15, 1980, silence swept through Piqua as the entire city experienced
a complete blackout that hit between 8 and 8:30 p.m. The cause was a 69,000 volt connector that
exploded. At the time, there were two sources of power connected to the power system: Dayton
Power and Light, and a back-up gas turbine. When the connector blew, it apparently sent out a
surge cutting off both sources from the system. The solution was to borrow a portable substation
from DP&L. The sub-station was installed in the 69 KV switching yard for a backup feed of
current into the station transformer to get the equipment running again. This work involved the
transporting of the portable sub, running lines and connections, testing, all while being hampered
by the cold and the snow. The Salvation Army provided warm shelter and the American Red
Cross provided food, drink, and necessities. Ulbrich’s Grocery opened its doors to help the Red
Cross deliver sandwiches and warm coffee to workers throughout the city. After 16 hours
employees were able to start bringing power back on. After 20 hours all the power had been
completely restored. What exactly caused the connector to explode was not determined. It could
have been cracked by vandalism, someone throwing a rock, or it could have been a faulty
connector. The connection may have gotten moisture on it, possibly from the snow, and if it was
already cracked water could have gotten down in it causing it to ground.
Also in 1980, the City of Piqua was selected to receive a grant from the federal government to
develop a District Hotwater Heating System in connection to the Power Plant. On April 6th a
group of commissioners; Elmo Hastings, Power System Director; Frank Patrizio, City Manager;
and District Heating Project Managers left on a trip to several Scandinavian countries. The trip
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was undertaken in order for these local officials to get first hand information and view of district
heating systems in operation. The group visited Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, returning on
April 20th. The District Heating Project was eventually approved by the commission. It was to
be an ongoing project to make the city self-sufficient as far as energy was concerned. As part of
the project, a back pressure steam turbine was installed in the Power Plant. The unit produced
150 pounds of steam and 835 kilowatts of electricity. It was 1983 before the installation of the
turbine and the lines were completed and the system was in operation.
With Elmo’s office being at the Dome, he stated the need for a power plant supervisor to be over
operations and maintenance. On January 5, 1981 Clarence Jordan was hired to fill this position.
In July, 1981, just seven months after being hired, Jordan claimed that cartoons were placed
around the plant depicting him in a racially derogatory manner. On several occasions, both at
home and while parked at the power plant, his cars were damaged and he stated that several
times when he discussed the incidents with Patrizio and the Police Department he was not given
any information pertaining to who committed the acts of harassment. He also claimed that his
requests for the establishment of an affirmative action program and a human relations committee
were denied, and that his efforts to carry out his duties were sabotaged. He said he was told by
Hastings and Sam Shaw (chief operator) that he should not be alone in the plant at any time. He
claimed he received threatening phone calls at his home, and a letter, sent to another person with
Jordan’s name, threatening to burn his house. Jordon contended that as a result, he suffered
family difficulties and mental injury which forced him to resign. Jordon also claimed that he
was unjustly denied step raises. In 1983 Clarence Jordan (former employee) and James (Jimmy)
Johnson (who still worked at the plant) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Dayton, against
the City of Piqua, and several city officials, seeking $600,000 in damages.
The U.S. District Court of Ohio overruled the City’s motion to reduce damages and ruled in
favor of Jordon and Johnson.
At the request of Mr. Hastings, the city commissions agreed to the formation of an energy board
for the Power System. The Piqua Energy Board held its first monthly meeting on Thursday
night, April 22, 1981 in the break room on the first floor of the power plant. In 1987 the
compressor room at the Dome was remodeled to be used as a break room/conference room. The
steam line was removed which went from the plant to the Dome which put an end to all steam
heat. Electric heaters were added. In 1990 the old reactor’s switchgear room was remodeled and
became the present day conference room. This opened up the area of the previous break
room/conference room. Distribution engineering moved from the third floor into this area. A
furnace was installed to heat the Distribution offices. After the remodeling of the Distribution
office areas, the Energy Board meetings were relocated to the Dome. Because attendance
became such an issue, these meetings were eventually changed to Tuesday at noon with lunch
provided.
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A 50th Anniversary of the Power System Open House was held, along with the dedication of the
initial Hot water District Heating System. The open house was held on a Sunday, November 13,
1983, at the Power Plant, 919 S. Main Street, from 1:30 P.M. to 5:00. Many people who
attended signed a guest book and enjoyed punch, cake, and cookies. Tours of the power plant
were also conducted.
Then, in early summer of 1984 the worst outage in the history of the Power System occurred.
On Wednesday, June 13, 1984 the City of Piqua experienced another total blackout. The
electrical system was completely knocked out as a result of a severe lightning storm when
lightning struck our main 2000 Amp bus in the Power Plant. This was where all of the power
from the generators as well as purchased power was inter-connected. The initial lightening strike
hit at approximately 8:10 p.m. causing the explosion and fires. Two pumpers and seven
firefighters fought the main fire and subsequent concealed fires, both in the sub-station and the
plant, until approximately 12:30 a.m.
The 2000 amp bus consisted of 23 circuit breakers. Five of the circuit breakers were totally
destroyed. The procedure for restoring service was to construct a 25 MVA temporary substation at the 69 KV switching yard. This sub-station was to move circuits from damaged
breakers on the 2000 amp bus so that service could be restored to sub-station No. 3 on Sunset
Drive. The circuit breaker protecting generator No. 4 in the Power Plant was totally destroyed
and had to be rewired in an external metal housing separate from the 2000 amp bus, but
connected to the bus. All of the circuit breakers, generators, and transformers had to be
electrically and mechanically tested to determine their worthiness to be restored to service.
Because of associated fires in the circuit breaker building that occurred when the breakers failed,
and due to lightning strikes, the low voltage wiring had to be totally replaced as well as the
building, which was basically “gutted,” had to be returned to a normal condition. Temporary
lines, which included setting 8 poles and string 10,000 feet of cable, were constructed to connect
the city’s distribution lines to DP&L lines, through the temporary substation.
During the time of the blackout, Piqua Mayor Charles E. Stevens, proclaimed a city wide state of
emergency. A curfew was imposed and all people and vehicles were ordered to remain off city
streets, right of ways and public property. The sale of beer and/or intoxicating liquor was
prohibited. Various cities and business donated generators. The sheriff’s department sent extra
shifts to help patrol the city. The American Red Cross, which set up at the City Fire Department,
supplied food and drink for the workers. The state of emergency and curfew remained in effect
until power was restored which was approximately 2:00 a.m. Friday morning. Many of the
Power System employees worked 30 hours straight. The power system operated for
approximately two months by purchasing power from Dayton Power and Light Co. while all
employees worked 12 hour shifts performing the maintenance which was needed to get the plant
back into operation.
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Piqua Power Sytem was not the most reliable. After this outage the completion of the 69 KV
loop around the city became a priority. Land was purchased north of Piqua between I-75 and the
railroad, to build No. 5 Sub-station. At 69 KV line was built from Sub #4 to Sub No. 5. This
substation was completed with the ribbon cutting ceremony held on April 23, 1986. An
interesting note is that this sub-station was called “Challenger Sub” for many years due to the
fact that it provided many challenges for the employees and also as a tribute to astronauts aboard
“Challenger”. The sub-station was completed an energized just three months after the
Challenger space shuttle disaster.
To continue with the loop a 69 KV line was built from Sub No. 3 to connect to the existing 69
KV line on South Street. Although the power system only had one tie to DP&L, the three major
sub-stations were tied together by this loop.
With H. Elmo Hastings plans of retiring in 1987 to take a position with Amp-O as the liaison
engineer for the Richard H. Gorsuch Generating Station project, a replacement was needed. In
1986 Richard “Dick” Miller was hired as Assistant Power System Director and promoted to
Power System Director in 1987. Dick was a consultant with GPD Associates when he became
acquainted with Piqua in 1984. After the blackout, Dick helped with the switchgear testing and
relay setting. He also designed a long-plan for the Power System. It was decided up that Mr.
Miller come to work for the city, oversee, and take responsibility for his plan and he was offered
the job as the Power System Director. Bill Sommer was hired in June 29, 1987 as the Assistant
Power System Director. Bill had experience and was very talented in negotiating purchased
power contracts.
When Dick was hired the power system was generating electricity. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) began enforcing many requirements. The baghouses had been
installed in 1982. In 1988 a coal containment pit had to be constructed behind the power plant.
The same year the power system installed an aerator to the section of the river behind the power
plant. This was to assist in cooling water and adding oxygen. The aerator circulated 2,000
gallons of water per minute and was anchored by an underground cable stretched across the river
with a power line carrying 460 volts. The aerator was installed to cool water that was drawn into
the plant. River water is circulated in the plant to cool generating machinery but the river water
was getting too warm to have much of a cooling effect. Another problem with the water that was
being drawn into the plant was the growth of moss in the river. To help keep the moss out of the
water intake, the line crews placed poles in the river to form a barricade around the intake.
It was clear that the economics of the situation made it cheaper to buy electricity from another
company than for a small municipality to generate power. A single interconnect between Piqua
and DP&L provided power to Piqua, but if there was any problem on the line, the city was again
without power because DP&L would “drop” the city. To help with this situation, No. 9 gas
turbine was purchased from Ontario Hydro of Canada. The used GT was being phased out by
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Ontario Hydro due to a move toward nuclear power by the Canadian power system. This
purchase was made and the gas turbine was installed at No. 5 Sub-station in 1989 – 1990.
It took three years of litigation before an agreement was reached with Dayton Power & Light to
provide a second interconnect. This agreement also made provision for future interconnects.
The second interconnect to Dayton Power & Light was built in 1991 which connected No 5 Substation to DP&L lines on St. Rt. 66 north of Hardin Road. That same year No. 3 sub-station was
upgraded and a third interconnect was constructed when DP&L built a 69 KV tie-line from their
Covington/Sidney feed. This “in and out” line was built along the old railroad right-of-way (now
the bike path) to tie into No. 3 substation on Sunset Drive.
With the three interconnects to Dayton Power & Light 69 KV lines, Piqua’s power system
became much more reliable, with fewer outages. Purchasing power from Cinergy and the New
York Power Authority and wheeling it through DP&L lines became much more cost efficient
than generating. In 1995 the plant burned approximately 35,000 tons of coal. With deregulation
driving the cost of bulk energy purchases down, and the uncertainty of potentially costly
environmental upgrades, Piqua city officials opted to resell electricity rather than make their
own. Since the “Clean Air Act” was passed in 1972 the power plant spent a major amount of
money trying to keep up with the EPA’s rules and regulations. The requirement of building the
baghouses to reduce the pollutants coming from the smoke stacks cost $5 million. The
requirement of building a coal containment facility to eliminate any possible acid run-off into the
Miami River cost $160,000. Then, the EPA required the power plant to remove all asbestos from
the building, and install a sprinkler system to keep the coal dust to a minimum. A Thermal
Management plan, limiting the temperature of the water returned to the river was the next
requirement to be put into place. The water could be no more than 85 degrees because it would
affect the fish in the river. The necessary cooling tower would cost the city $5 million. This,
along with the EPA issuing a requirement to continuously monitor sulfur dioxide emissions,
which would cost an additional $2 million dollars, was the “straw that broke the camel’s back”.
The system was becoming too inefficient compared to purchasing power on the open market. In
June of 1997 the Piqua Municipal Power System began putting the coal burning generators into
mothballs. Other that the gas turbines that remain, the coal fired power system would generate no
longer. Of the power system’s 61 employees, 16 of them were moved into other city jobs.
Dick Miller implemented the lineman training program which the power system’s linemen are
required to complete. It takes a person on a career plan from apprentice to journeyman with
credentials recognized by the U.S Department of Labor. The training this program provided
helped to prevent a deadly accident from occurring on July 6, 1997. On this date at
approximately 7:30 p.m. the operator experienced trips on various breakers. He was able to
reclose all breakers except one. Two top linemen were called in to check out the situation. The
linemen, Doug Stahl and Jim Eberly, followed safety procedures and were wearing all the
required personal protective equipment. They installed a rubber hose for additional protection.
Due to a faulty trip coil causing a back feed through a circuit, and a cracked terminator, both
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linemen received first and second degree burns over the left side of their face. Jim received
additional burns on his left arm and chest. Both were transported to Upper Valley Medical
Center, then to Miami Valley Hospital. If not for the training programs and safety requirements
implemented, the results of this accident could have been much worse.
In 1998, after 12 years of service to the Piqua Power System, Richard Miller was forced to retire.
He was battling cancer and in 1999 passed away.
Bill Sommer was promoted to Power System Director effective June 16, 1998. Ed Krieger was
hired as Assistant Power System Director on April 13, 1998. With these two men the Piqua
Power System was left in very capable hands. Under Bill’s leadership the Power Plant and the
Distribution Department became a more “united” system. Bill was very instrumental in the
litigation for additional interconnects with Dayton Power & Light. With his excellent financial
skills, Mr. Sommer was able to guide the power system through tight budgets while providing
good, safe working conditions, all the while keeping electric rates low. With these skills, he
locked in Piqua’s long-term power purchase agreements.
On Jan. 7, 1999, Piqua tapped into the 69kV line from DP&L’s Eldean Sub on Experiment Farm
Road to Piqua’s No. 4 Sub on Cty. Rd. 25A south of the Power Plant, a distance of
approximately 4 miles. This project represented an investment of $2.4 million by the Piqua
Municipal Power System and was the last of several interconnects initiated in the late 1980’s to
improve system reliability. The new line allowed Piqua to double its electric load and enabled
the power system to continue to meet the needs of the customers in Piqua.
The 90’s and 2000’s brought about many projects. In the early 1990’s the Shawnee area was cut
over from 4,160 volts to 13,200 volts. Also, power system employees presented programs to
Piqua Schools: Electrical Safety Program to grades k-3 and Energy Programs to grades 4-6.
These programs and activities were also a part of “National Night-Out Against Crime” and
“Piqua Mall Days.” Small power outages caused by high winds blowing down trees and
breaking power lines occurred throughout the 1990’s and on March 10, 2002 winds gusting
greater than 60 mps ripped off roofs and snapped power poles. This resulted in spotted outages
lasting only a few hours. It was obvious that the power system had developed into a reliable
system, with prompt service. Piqua Power System had become an important asset to the citizens
of Piqua.
On October 23, 2002, Jim Eberly and Eddie Alexander were part of a group of citizens that
received Jan Mulder Awards. These awards were presented in honor of the first Piqua Police
officer killed in the line of duty. It was to recognize individuals for their acts of courage. Jim
and Ed were working in the area of Stratford Drive when Jamie Jones, a tree trimmer, was
involved in a serious accident on April 29, 2002. Jones was trimming trees along Stratford Drive
when he was struck by a tree limb, left unconscious, not breathing, and suspended in the tree.
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The award winners secured and lowered Jones to the ground and initiated CPR until emergency
crews arrived on the scene.
April 14, 2006, the Piqua Power System was one of 64 of the nation’s more than 2,000 public
power utilities to earn “Reliable Public Power Provider” recognition from the American Public
Power Association for providing consumers with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric
service. The Reliable Public Power Provider recognizes public power utilities that demonstrate
proficiency in four key disciplines: Reliability, safety, training and system improvement. APPA
is the national organization representing more than 2,000 not-for-profit, community and state
owned electric utilities. It is located in Washington, D.C.
November 10, 2005, the city joined a pool of 13 municipalities to purchase power from AMPOhio. According to Power System Director, Bill Sommer, larger blocks of power can be
purchased and a better portfolio of suppliers may be made available for Piqua and the rest of the
pool.
September 18, 2007, the City of Piqua signed on to participate in three AMP-Ohio projects
which commits $140 million over the next 40 years to a series of power plant projects that would
help Piqua meet its energy needs in the coming years. These projects include:
1. The American Municipal Power Generation Station (AMPGS) a coal fired plant
that will generate a total of 1,000 MW. The plant, which is to be owned and
operated by AMP-Ohio, to be located near the Ohio River in Meigs County, will
be owned and operated by AMP-Ohio.
2. The Prairie State Energy Campus, a coal-fired plant to be located 40 miles
southeast of St. Louis, MO. This project includes on-site coal reserves to run the
plant for 30 years. The plant will be owned and operated by a consortium,
including Amp-Ohio and Peabody Coal Company.
3. Three hydroelectric projects with facilities to be located at Smithland, IL,
Cannelton, IN, and Willow Island.
By sharing ownership in these projects, Piqua will save roughly $4 million per year over
time on the cost of electricity.
January 16, 2008, Piqua joined the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS). This was another
way of helping to improve service to customers.
The remnants of Hurricane Ike blew through Piqua and the lower part of the state of Ohio on
September 14, 2008. Winds gusted up to 63 miles per hour. Although there was much damage
everywhere in the Miami Valley, Piqua Power customers experienced outages in spotted areas
from approximately 2 p.m. Sunday until about 4 a.m. Monday. Many other areas around Miami
Valley were without power for over a week. Since the additional ties to Dayton Power & Light‘s
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69 KV lines, nothing has come close to the black-outs or long outages that the Piqua Power
System once experienced.
Bill Sommer retired effective May 31, 2009, with his last working day being May 8. After his
retirement, Bill continued to work in the power industry by taking a position with AMP-Ohio. Ed
Krieger was promoted to Power System Director.
Under Ed’s supervision the Piqua Power System continues to grow and improve. New
technology and equipment has been implemented. The Electrical Safety programs are still
provided to the schools. Additional programs are being offered. Energy Depot is one of these
new programs. Energy Depot is a set of online tools and resources to help residential electric
customers better understand and manage their home energy use and costs. The service is offered
at no cost through Piqua’s membership in AMP-Ohio.
The Municipal Power System has been a valuable asset to the citizens of Piqua. Although it has
endured some very tough times, it has also brought much notoriety and pride. The Power
System will continue to be a valuable asset not only to its customers but to all the citizens of
Piqua.
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