HISTORY OF WATER AND ELECTRICITY

The history of water and electricity production and distribution.

Before 1893	Inhabitants water needs were satisfied by using rainwater from cisterns or groundwater from pits. Leonard Smith constructed a small water distribution net in Willemstad that was later sold to Maduro & Sons. For illumination inhabitants used kerosene lamps.

1893	American Consul, Leonard B. Smith, was granted the right to generate and distribute power on Curacao at Plantersrust.

1897	First light burnt in Curacao.

1907	Leonard B. Smith sold power company to Maduro & Sons.

1927	Maduro & Sons sold the power company to the Nederlands Indisch Gas Maatschappij (N.I.G.M.).

1928	The Landswatervoorzieningsdienst (L.W.V.) is founded and desalination of seawater began with the construction of the Riffort Plant.

1929	Construction of the Penstraat water plant ( LWV)

1948	Construction of the Mundu Nobo Waterplant (LWV)

1950	N.I.G.M. is renamed as Overzeese Gas en Elektriciteit Maatschappij(O.G.E.M.).

1957	The First “dual purpose plant” (combined production of water and electricity) became a reality at the Plant of Mundu Nobo.

1975-1976	Formation of the Kompania di Awa I Elektrisidat (K.A.E.) and Kompania di Produkshon i Distribushon di Awa i Elektrisidat (KODELA).

1977	Power production and distribution moved from O.G.E.M. to Island Territory (K.A.E. and KODELA ).

1988	DWD (Dienst Water Distributie (Island Territory Curacao) was integrated into KODELA

1998	Management of K.A.E. and KODELA was integrated into the Integrated Utility Holding (I.U.H.).

2001	I.U.H., K.A.E. and KODELA were rebranded under a unifying banner: Aqualectra, Aqualectra Production and Aqualectra Distribution. A third operating company was created in February 2001, Aqualectra Multi Utility. The Management Board of Aqualectra was given responsibility for management of the operating companies.