October 26, 1936: The Hoover Dam Powers L.A.

Seventy years ago today, hydroelectric generators at the Hoover Dam began to transmit electricity to Los Angeles, California. The Hoover Powerplant is located at the downstream toe of the Hoover Dam, a massive concrete structure in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, some 266 miles east of L.A. In 1931, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $48,890,995 contract for the dam and powerplant to Six Companies, Inc., a joint venture of some of the American West's most successful engineering and construction firms. Today, the Hoover Powerplant consists of 17 main Francis turbine generators and two Pelton Waterwheel station service units. The total plant capacity is 2,079 MW.