By 1880, while some homes were lit ... plans to expand his system throughout Manhattan and New York City, says Wallace. As the Pearl Street station used purely direct current (DC), though, it ...

On September 4, 1882, a significant chapter in the history of electricity began when Thomas Edison opened the Pearl Street Station in New York City. This was the first commercial electric power ...

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Pearl Street Station began operating on September 4, 1882, providing electricity to 508 customers in New York and a total of 10,164 lamps. Among those electric lamps were 106 lamps at the offices ...