By Bob Gerstle
33-year member Chad Mulock throws the ceremonial switch 100 years after the plant first began operation. Photo by Bob Gerstle
PG&E’s Drum Powerhouse in Alta celebrated its 100th anniversary on Nov. 26.
A small group of Title 200 hydro employees honored the occasion. Chad Mulock, hydro operator and 35-year IBEW member, performed the identical operations, at 10:30a.m., that occurred at the same time and on the same date in 1913.
What helped make this ceremony special was that Chad’s grandfather, Charles Mulock, was instrumental in the construction of Drum beginning in 1912. Charles was an employee of Knight Foundry when he helped engineer and build many of the parts that made Drum the first hydro facility in the PG&E system. He later became a PG&E employee and worked at the powerhouse.
Chad has been working at Drum since 1980, and will retire early in 2014 after 36 years as an operator. Proud and professional, his presence at Drum will be sorely missed.
The success of Drum Powerhouse paved the way for many future hydro generation developments within the PG&E territory. It now has 5 units on line, producing 55 megawatts of electricity.
Charles Mulock (left), grandfather of Chad Mulock, is shown with his helper in 1928. Photo courtesy of Chad Mulock