1946-1995 | The PG&E Era
In 1946, PG&E purchased the entire system from the Utica Mining Company.
“In 1940 the Utica Gold Mining Company’s power and water properties were separated from its mining properties and operations of the power and water properties were continued under the name of the Utica Power Company, a joint venture of the Hobart Estate Company and Emma Rose. When Emma Rose, who owned half of the Utica Mining Co., died in 1946 the Utica Power Company was sold to Pacific Gas & Electric. PG&E was issued two licenses by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Between 1946 and 1995, PG&E maintained and upgraded the water conveyance system and hydroelectric power plants. More than 25 workers, including ditch-tender who walked the systems daily, were needed to keep the system in working order along with support from helicopters for system repairs. During this era, there was an additional nine miles of flume between Avery and McKay’s diversion on the Stanislaus River. This section was abandoned in the early 1990s with the completion of the Collierville Tunnel.
Information courtesy of Maureen Love-Allen Elliott. Pictured: Photo of PG&E headquarters
