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The Headquarters Building Of The Perak River Hydro-Electric Power Company Ltd, Ipoh
This photograph shows the Perak River Hydro building in Ipoh. The Perak River Hydro-Electric Power Company Limited was registered in London in 1926.
A hydro-electric dam was built at Chenderoh, north of Kuala Kangsar to supply electricity to the mines and dredges of Kinta Valley as well as for domestic use. In addition, a small steam generator station was built at Malim Nawar, to take up the load when water was low and the hydroelectric station was unable to operate at full capacity. The company inaugurated its electrical grid on 13 December 1928, to a mine at Ayer Itam, near Kampar. The opening of the Chenderoh hydro-electric dam was officiated by Sultan Iskandar Shah in 1930.
The Perak River Hydro formed a subsidiary called Kinta Electrical Distribution Company Limited (KED) in 1928 to distribute electricity to shophouses and residences in the Kinta Valley. By 1956 KED was supplying power to 63 towns across Perak. The 'hydro' as it was known was the country's largest power supply utility until it was overtaken by the Central Electricity Board in 1955.
Our database editor adds : According to the 90 years Commemorative magazine of the Royal Ipoh Club, 'Ipoh actually had its first electricity supplies in 1923 by arrangement with the Pengkalan Tin Company near Batu Gajah. Then in 1926 the department built its own small power station in Lahat Road. Finally as above, in 1930 the new Hydro company supplied Ipoh."
To see the Perak River Hydroelectric Dam ( Chenderoh), click here.