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LPC history of dedication to the communityWhen electricity arrived in Longmont in 1886, three lamps burned in the Bank of Longmont and five lamps provided light at Persian's Store. Eventually, an electric plant powered by steam was built in 1889. By 1890, lights were installed on street corners in the central business district.
Because Longmont's electricity supply from the steam-powered plant fell short of demand, the City granted a 20-year franchise to the Northern Colorado Power Company (NCP) in 1892. But when NCP requested an additional 25-year franchise in 1907, citizens protested. Citizens and proprietors believed the provider's rates had become too high and service was unsatisfactory.
In 1908, citizens decided to find a way to produce electricity for themselves. The results of an election held in April 1911 were overwhelmingly in favor of a municipal electric system and a bond issue to fund it. Shortly after the election, construction of the Longmont Hydroelectric Power Plant and a transmission system to bring electricity to Longmont began.
It soon became apparent, however, that funds from the bond issue would not be enough to build the new electric system. But because citizens felt strongly about owning their own electric system, they formed Longmont Electric Company and subscribed $63,000 to complete construction. Businessmen planned to sell the system to the City at cost. The City would pay for the system through the sale of municipal bonds, city warrants and profits from the power produced by the hydro plant.
City Council made several attempts to purchase the local distribution system from NCP, but to no avail. Several of the more active citizens then created Longmont Service and eventually pledged enough money to build a new distribution system complete with meters.
Work at the hydro plant progressed and was nearly complete by December 1911, but NCP obtained a temporary injunction to keep the City from issuing bonds to pay for the new plant. A grass roots movement to protest NCP as Longmont's electric provider also began. Many citizens used only kerosene lights until the connection to municipal power lines became available.
On March 7, 1912, Longmont won the district court injunction suit. In celebration, Longmont declared itself the "City of Lights." To show their appreciation for the sacrifice and support, City Council declared all customers would have an unmetered porch light.
Population growth made demands for more electric power inevitable. With monthly expenditures for power from outside sources exceeding $20,000, the City decided to build its own auxiliary power plant. In November 1930, City Council authorized construction of a new diesel-powered generation plant.
The Longmont Municipal Light & Power Plant, located at 999 Main Street,
began operation the next year, tripling generation capacity. 
About
that time, the distribution system was also rebuilt with heavier transformers
and trunk lines. Eventually, however, increasing diesel fuel prices made the
diesel plant impractical to retain, even for emergency power. It was dismantled
and sold in July 1967.
Once again, growing electricity needs inLongmont forced the City to supplement the power system with outside energy. In 1945, the Terry Street Substation was completed and, in 1946, the Bureau of Reclamation built transmission lines to carry electricity to Longmont from federal power sources.
In the 1960's the Bureau of Reclamation notified the City that it would no longer be building hydroelectric dams. The announcement and continued population growth in Longmont prompted city leaders to continue their search for new sources of electric power.
In 1973, the City joined three other front-range communities (Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park) with municipally-owned utilities to create Platte River Power Authority. Platte River would act on behalf of the communities to obtain additional electric power and to create its own power sources. This decision ushered in a new era in power management for Longmont, one that has become instrumental in providing for growth while retaining low rates.
Platte River explored ways to meet the continually growing power needs of its four member cities. It began building the coal-fired Rawhide Power Plant in the town of Wellington just north of Fort Collins in 1975. In 1983, the plant began providing power to the four cities.
In 1996, the electric utility began exploring supplemental utility services in order to remain competitive. In 1997, City Council authorized construction of a fiber optic backbone in an effort to bring competitive prices for telecommunications services. The investment prompted the Electric Department to change its name to Longmont Power & Communications, reinforcing the City's commitment to its citizens and Longmont's business community.
Source: LONGMONT, COLORADO: The Longmont Municipal Hydroelectric Plant, including all its sources.