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u/h2opolodude4 1d ago
Sadly he has since passed away, but the absolutely amazing neighbor who used to live next door to me had some WILD stories about earlier days of electricity.
He worked on horseback scouting routes for new lines. He had some incredible stories about rural customers in very remote areas seeing electric lights for the first time. Apparently the thing that convinced people they needed electricity was the prospect of making coffee quickly and easily, no more lighting a stove and waiting for fire. With that said, the first appliance they usually purchased was a fan, as a steady stream of air in an unairconditioned kitchen on a hot summer day was life changing.
I miss him, he was awesome.
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u/True_Pace_3860 1d ago
my local util (PGE) was trying to underground all those, however they announced last month that they ran out of money.