Canadian Niagara Power Company, Ltd., 1896-1936

The Canadian National Power Co., Ltd. was organized by, among others, W.B. Rankine with financial backing from New York City bankers headed by Edward Dean Adams. It entered an agreement with the Commissioners of Queen Victoria Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario that allowed them to divert water from the river to generate electricity in return for providing an income stream for the park, and agreeing to protect the park environment. Construction did not begin until 1901, under the direction of Niagara Falls Power Comapny's elecrical director, Harold Buck. The plant opened in 1905 and was operated as an affiliate of the Niagara Falls Power Company. Like the parent company, it was absorbed by Niagara Mohawk and became a subsidary in 1950.

In 1927 the generating station was named for William B. Rankine.

It remained a private comany throughout its existence, although prior to 2004 it reached an agreement with the government-owned Ontario Hydro under which the generating station ceased production and was placed on "standby" status. Hydro provided power to the private owners for re-sale, who agreed to operate the generators only when called upon by Hydro. The plant was decomissioned in 2005.

William H. Siener, May 1, 2011