On 7 June 1879, the use of electricity for lighting was demonstrated for the first time on Latvian soil, and, at the same time, also for the first time in the Baltics, in Riga when a small power station, consisting of a traction engine, a dynamo and an accumulator battery, was established for the illumination of the Schwartz concert garden and building with Jablockovs’ candles.
In 1883, a direct current generator with a steam engine was assembled near Riga Railway Station, and an electricity transmission line was built up to the Riga Craft Society House on the corner of Valnu iela and Audeju iela, where lighting with electric arc lamps was installed.
From 1883 – 1887, generators were installed at the Dzuta and Bolderaja spinning factories, at the Lodera saw mill, in residential buildings in Bolderaja, on the corner of Elizabetes iela and the current Pulkveza Brieza iela, as well as elsewhere in Riga. Electricity was used to provide lighting for the premises.
In 1887, a small power station with a capacity of approximately 42.5 kW, which at that time was the largest in Riga, was installed at the City of Riga’s German Theatre (now the National Opera House). The electricity was used to illuminate the theatre building, as well as nearby institutional and residential buildings.
From 1889 – 1901, more than 30 direct current generators for electricity production operated in Riga, including at the Wolfschmidt distillery, at the Felser & Co machine factory, at Fenikss AS, Vezuvs AS, Riga Steel Factory AS, and Kuznecovs AS, as well as at the Livonia and Waldschlessen breweries, at the Riga Latvian Society House, at Pose’s spinning mill, at Mindelis’ rubber factory, etc. The generator with the largest capacity – approximately 1,300 kW – operated at Fenikss AS. In Latvia’s largest cities of Daugavpils, Ventspils, Jelgava, Liepaja and others; power stations serving individual industrial companies, factories, trading companies, state institutions and private owners entered service. Generators were also installed at individual mansion houses in Latvia’s regions, includingin Smiltene and Cesvaine.
On 5 November 1901, Riga City Council issued an 8,000 rouble credit for the design of the city’s power station at Andrejsala. The power station design conceived by outstanding German engineer Oskar von Miller was ratified in March 1903. In the summer of 1904, the power station building designed by architect, Karlis Felsko was built and assembly of the power station’s equipment began in September.
On 14 May 1905, the Mayor of the City of Riga, George Armitsted signed a warrant regarding the ratification of the Andrejsala Power Plant entry into service and its transfer into the administration of the city’s Companies Authority. Six boilers, a horizontal steam engine with a capacity of 500 HP and a 3,300 V alternating-current generator, as well as two 1,000 HP steam engines were assembled and entered service at the power plant.
In 1914, the electricity network in Riga stretched to a length of more than 238 km. The capacity of the Andrejsala power plant was 7,460 kW, and it produced 10.2 million kWh of electricity. At that time, it was the largest power plant in Latvia. Later, the Andrejsala power plant (Andrejsala heating plant) became Latvia’s most important source of power and together with Kegums HES provided the foundation for Latvia’s power system.
In February 1919, the Bolshevik government decided to build hydropower plants near the Isle of Dole and in Kuldiga, but these plans were not implemented.
On 16 July 1919, the Latvian government issued Regulations regarding Power Plants, Equipment and Cables which prescribed that all operational electric power stations, equipment, cables and cable networks would henceforth be transferred into the administration of the Ministry of Finance’s Industry Department’s Electricity Companies Inspectorate. Power plants and electricity transmission lines were owned by the state, local governments and private interests.
In 1921, according to data from the Statistics Bureau, 62 power plants were operational in Latvia (including hydropower plants) producing approximately 9 million kWh of electricity. The largest power plants operated in Riga (4,000 kW total capacity), Jugla (5,400 kW total capacity) and Liepaja (1,620 kW total capacity).
In 1924, the Latvian government issued credits which enabled the construction of a new power plant and modernisation of existing power plants and electric cable networks. New electricity exchanges were built, and the capacities of existing power plants were increased in Riga, Jelgava, Daugavpils, Sloka, Kemeri, Tukums, Talsi, Jekabpils, Krustpils, Kraslava, Rezekne, Karsava, Valka and Valmiera, while the construction or reconstruction of electricity networks was carried out in Jurmala, Plavini, Grivi and Limbazi.
In 1926, 63 power plants with a total capacity of 24.45 MW were operational in Latvia, and 47.5 million kWh of electricity was supplied to clients during the year. An electricity supply company, Jugla Hydroelectric Networks was founded.
In 1927, engineer, O. Leimanis’ Latvian national electrification programme for 1935 – 1950 was approved. Planning was under way for the construction of new power plants in the vicinity of Kegums, as well as in major Latvian cities including Liepaja, Daugavpils, the districts of Madona and Valka and elsewhere. This programme was not implemented due to the onset of the Second World War and the occupation of Latvia by Soviet armed forces.
