History of District Heating in the United States

| Chronological List of District Heating Systems in the United States |

District Heating in Auburn, New York

The Auburn Steam Heating Co, Ltd. incorporated on June 6, 1878 and began supplying steam in September 1878. The company was bought by the Brush-Swan Electric Light Company of New England, which used the steam heating plant to generate electricity. The system passed through several owners before being acquired by the Empire Gas & Electric Company in 1911.

The system ceased operation on May 20, 1925 as the plant was no longer generating electricity and became uneconomical to operate.

References
1878 "Heating a City by Steam," The New York Times, April 28, 1878, Page 2.
A meeting of the citizens of Auburn was held on the 25th inst. to consider the feasibility of introducing the Holly System of steam heating.

1878 The Buffalo Commercial, October 1, 1878, Page 2.
The Auburn Steam Heating Company la making progress la its work of laying pipes. In tbe neighborhood ot forty firms and individuals have already signified their intention to heat their stores and dwelling by the new method, and the enterprise bida fair to be aa great a pubtlo convenience as tbe gaa or waterworks.

1878 "City Steam Heating," The Schenectady Evening Star, 13 December 1878, Page 4.
The Auburn Steam Heating Company began its operations in September last.

1879 The Plumber and Sanitary Engineer 2(15):350 (October 1, 1879)
A resident of Auburn, in this State, reports they have had the Holly system of steam heating in operation there since the fall of 1878. It was first proposed to heat houses only during the winter months, or from October until April, for the amount that the coal bills had averaged for the three previous years. After parties had introduced it into their houses the price was doubled, and now, even at the above figures, the company supplying it have not found it profitable. This may be owing however to the fact that only about one and a half miles of pipe have been laid and that customers are so scattered.

1879 History of Cayuga County, New York, 1787-1879, by Elliot G. Storke
Page 216: The Auburn Steam Heating Co.. Limited, was incorporated June 6th, 1878, and completed their organization June 26, 1878, by the election of the following named Directors, M. L. Walley, President ; Chas. A. Smith, Secretary and Treasurer; Calvin Young, J. H. Osborne, C. M. Howlet, H. J. Sartwell and J. A. Cook. Calvin Young, J. A. Cook and M. L. Walley were constituted an executive committee. The object of the company is to introduce the Holly system of steam heating into public and private buildings. A one story brick building, 50 by 32 feet, is being erected on the Outlet, in rear of the Cayuga Co. National Bank, into which the company purpose putting six fifteen feet boilers. The laying of 4,500 feet of mains, all that it is designed to put down immediately, is in progress, and it is expected they will be brought into use by the middle of October, 1878.

1881 "Steam Heat Company," The Evening Auburnian, March 21, 1881, Page 1.

1911 Fifth Annual Report of the Public Service Commission Second District for the year ended December 31, 1911, Volume 3
Pages 3-4: Auburn Light, Heat and Power Company. On August 8, 1911, all property and franchises of company were sold to Empire Gas and Electric Company.

1925 "Old Heating Plant Passes," The Ithaca Journal, May 21, 1925, Page 8.

1925 Fifth Annual Report of the Public Service Commission for the year ended December 31, 1925, Volume 2
Pages 13: Empire Gas and Electric Company. Steam heating operations were discontinued May 20, 1925.

1951 A Narrative of Auburn (N.Y.) from 1861 to 1950 ...: Being in Part an Enlargement of the Auburn Chronicle, by Henry M. Allen
2. Auburn Steam Heating Co., organized July 6,1878 located rear of 26 North St.
3. Brush-Swan Electric Light Co. of New England. Franchise April 21, 1884, located at 26 North St.
4. Brush-Swan Electric Light Co. of Auburn organized May 1, 1884 (Firms 3 and 4 marged Dec 4, 1885)
6. Auburn Electric Light Co. organized Feb. 11, 1887 from 4 by change of name.
7. Auburn Light, Heat & Power Co. organized October 19, 1899 (Firms 6 and 7 merged July 10, 1901)
There was started on Steam Lane a steam heating plant. This firm planned to furnish heat to stores and dwellings from a central station, a plan which promised economy. The pipes were placed under the streets and steam was supplied to the central part of the city. The line ran west on Genesee as far as James Street. On June 7, 1884, this firm was maraged with the new Brush-Swan Electric Co. of New England which bought the out.

1955 A chronicle of Auburn from 1793 to 1955 : being a chronicle of early Auburn and chronicle of Auburn consolidated, by Henry M. Allen
Page 96: The steam heating plant was closed up in 1925 as electricity was no longer generated here and the boilers were shut down.