Burlington Electric Department
| Company type | Municipal utility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric utility |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Headquarters | Burlington , United States |
Area served | Burlington, Vermont |
| Products | Electricity generation and distribution |
The Burlington Electric Department (BED) is a city-owned electric utility that provides service to Burlington, Vermont. It stands as the largest municipally operated electric utility in Vermont, catering to more than 19,600 customers, including the Burlington International Airport.
Generating plants
BED holds a 50% ownership stake in the J. C. McNeil generating station, which utilizes wood as fuel. This facility, built in 1984, was recognized as the largest wood-burning plant worldwide at the time and remains one of the biggest today.[1] In addition, BED manages the Winooski One hydroelectric plant, a gas turbine unit, and two solar power installations.[2]
History
BED was founded in 1905 following dissatisfaction with the pricing policies of the investor-owned Burlington Light and Power Company.[1] In 1954, it increased its generation capacity by commissioning the Moran Municipal Generation Station, a 30-megawatt coal-fired plant named after Mayor J.E. Moran. This facility ceased operations in 1986, with intentions to convert it for recreational or museum purposes.[3]
Historic building
The Pine Street campus of BED, constructed around 1969 and designed by architect Julian Goodrich from Freeman French Freeman, honors Superintendent William A. Stebbins (who served from 1954 to 1975). The building is regarded as an "excellent example of the International Style," characterized by its curtain wall design and featuring two porte-cochères.[4]
Russian software hack
On December 30, 2016, The Washington Post published a report claiming that Russian hackers had infiltrated the U.S. electric grid through Burlington Electric’s computer network. Subsequently, journalist Glenn Greenwald disputed this claim as incorrect. The Post later revised its article to state there was "no indication" that Russian hackers accessed the electric grid itself and clarified that the compromised computer was not connected to it. Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin highlighted that this episode demonstrated the critical need for federal measures to address cyber threats of this nature.
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