Utilities Kingston is celebrating 25 years of delivering safe, reliable and innovative utility services to the community. Since 2000, the organization has provided electricity, water, wastewater, natural gas and fibre through a multi-utility model that remains unique in Ontario.

This integrated approach has made Kingston’s utilities more efficient and resilient, while supporting the city’s growth and quality of life. It reflects a bold decision by the City 25 years ago, during a period of major change when new provincial rules required municipalities to restructure their utilities. While many communities chose to separate their services, Kingston kept them connected, ensuring decisions would continue to be made locally and in the best interests of the community.

“This year, we mark 25 years of Utilities Kingston and the City’s decision to build an integrated multi-utility model,” says David Fell, Utilities Kingston President and CEO. “By putting local priorities first, we have delivered dependable services while building strong partnerships with our community. This milestone is a tribute to the trust of residents, the vision of City leaders, and the dedication of employees who work every day to provide the services people rely on.”

Over the past quarter century, Utilities Kingston has modernized critical infrastructure to keep services reliable, expanded its fibre network to strengthen Kingston’s digital backbone, and advanced award-winning programs in conservation, safety and innovation. Local decision-making and community priorities remain at the centre of its work, and these achievements provide a strong foundation for the future.

“Reaching our 25th anniversary is about more than looking back. It’s also about preparing for what comes next,” adds Fell. “This milestone reflects the commitment of our employees and the strength of our partnerships, and it sets the path forward as we continue to serve Kingston with innovation and care.”

Looking forward, Utilities Kingston remains committed to advancing its multi-utility model to meet the evolving needs of customers, support climate leadership and strengthen community well-being. The 25th anniversary is both a celebration of the past and a promise for the future, rooted in safety, integrity, innovation and reliability.

Becoming Utilities Kingston

For 25 years, Utilities Kingston has brought multiple utility services together under one organization. This integrated model grew from a long legacy dating back to the 1800s, when gas first lit Kingston’s streets and the Water Works Company began supplying safe drinking water. Those early services created the foundation for the modern system residents rely on today.

In the early 20th century, the City created a Public Utilities Commission to oversee water, gas, and electricity. The PUC managed Kingston’s utility services for decades, delivering essential programs that improved life for residents. By the late 1990s, it employed about 139 people, offered initiatives such as Gas Appliance Financing and the Water Heater Rental Plan, and carried out projects like inspections beneath the Great Cataraqui River to strengthen infrastructure.

On January 1, 1998, the City of Kingston, Kingston Township, and Pittsburgh Township amalgamated. With this change, responsibility for water, wastewater, gas, and electricity shifted to the new Corporation of the City of Kingston, replacing the former PUC.

That same year, the Province introduced the Electricity Act, requiring municipalities to incorporate their electricity distribution businesses. For Kingston, this was a turning point. With services already integrated and a fibre network beginning to grow, the City made a deliberate choice to keep utilities connected, setting the stage for the creation of Utilities Kingston.

In 2000, to comply with the Electricity Act, the City transferred electricity assets to a new corporation called Kingston Electricity Distribution Limited. An affiliate services company was created at the same time to manage operations across all utilities. Shortly after, the company registered the business name Utilities Kingston. Employees and fibre assets were transferred under this structure, and Kingston Electricity Distribution Limited later became Kingston Hydro Corporation.

Today, nearly 300 employees work together across Utilities Kingston’s multi-utility model. This workforce brings diverse expertise and a culture of collaboration that is as unique as the structure itself. Whether delivering daily operations or responding to emergencies, employees continue to demonstrate dedication, resilience, and innovation.