The Grid: Electrical Infrastructure for a New Era

by Gretchen Bakke

For example, in a 1934 bulletin, Southern California Edison details what their customers might expect to get from a modest monthly “light” bill. Saying: “In the typical six-room house, electricity does all of the washing, ironing and sweeping. It makes a pot of coffee and eight slices of toast every morning with waffles on Sunday. It supplies energy for radio three hours a day and provides for the occasional use of the curling iron, fan, warming pad, and other appliances—all for an average monthly bill of $1.92. For an additional $2.00 or $2.50 monthly, electric refrigeration may be added, while complete electric service including dishwasher, mangle, and a modern range to do all the cooking costs on the Edison market an average of only $6.55 a month. There is no cheaper servant on the market.”