Growth and development in the electric power industry

THE HISTORY of the electric utility industry in the United States in the 25 years since AIEE celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 1934 has been that of remarkable physical growth. The technical achievements of the industry during this period helped to foster this growth and were, in turn, stimulated and made possible by it. During this 25-year period, electric utility generation expanded by well over 700%, or at a rate almost 2&1/2; times as fast as the increase in the real gross national product (GNP) after eliminating changes in the price level. The expanding use of electric energy in every aspect of American life has contributed to and, in turn, has been made possible by the rising standards of living and the increased productivity this country has enjoyed in this period.