In 1916, the Oshawa Electric Company, which was run by the Seymour Power Company, was purchased by the Ontario Government and placed under the control of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario. This Commission was set up in 1905 by the provincial government to obtain and provide electrical power at cost to municipalities on a province-wide basis. During the years following the First World War, Oshawa expanded to become a thriving industrial city and the demand for more light and power increased dramatically. In 1929, the electric distribution system was purchased from the Ontario Government at a cost of $310,000. To operate the electrical distribution system, City Council passed a by-law to establish a Public Utilities Commission of 5 members, which would include the mayor. The first election of members of this commission was held on January 6, 1930. The newly formed commission commenced operations, under the Public Utilities Act in Hydro’s old location, 26 King Street West. Since these rented quarters were inadequate, the first objective of the new commission was to provide more suitable office headquarters. The result was to move to 100 Simcoe Street South, which opened in 1931, and housed both the electric and water departments. On January 1, 1960 the Oshawa P.U.C., at the request, undertook the operation of the transit system for Oshawa. The Commission did this until June, 1996, when City Council created a new Oshawa Transit commission that reported to City Council. The commission looked after the water services for Oshawa until January 1, 1974, when the Regional Municipality of Durham assumed responsibility for the Water Department. On November 7, 2000, in order to comply with the “Energy Competition Act”, the Oshawa Public Utilities Commission was retired and Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. was created to carry on the work of electric distribution . Oshawa PUC Networks Inc. operates from the same location at 100 Simcoe Street South.