RWE Polska – HAS A LONG TRADITION
Our history dates back to the power station in Powiśle whose tradition in the field of distribution and supply of electricity is continued by RWE Polska. The first power transmission service, lasting 5 minutes in selected residential homes in Warsaw, was an event, which marked the onset of the age of electricity in the Polish capital:
"On 1stof September 1903, from 3:45 to 3:50 p.m., electrical light bulbs were turned on for 5 minutes in the homes of private subscribers" ...
The above is confirmed by an entry in the Company's oldest Connection Directory, listing Aleksandrine, ul. Mokotowska 59, as the first subscriber in Warsaw. The power connection was established on 25 August 1903, and the first light bulb in the history of Warsaw was lit at the above address on 1stof September 1903.
This is a historical date – Warsaw was the fifth Polish city to have its own power station, referred to as the Powiśle Power Station, later also known by names of Central, Powiślańska, Warsaw or Municipal Power Station. Electrification became a fact. Electricity gradually became known as a "shining, heating and moving friend of the house" (brochure by A. Wilke). The power switchyard in Powiśle transmitted electricity to feed points which, in turn, supplied Warsaw-based homes and companies.
After World War I, electricity applications became widespread to the extent that electricity became an indispensable medium in the city. The power station was upgraded through expansion of its power transmission grid and improvement of its administrative structure. New facilities were created – the construction of the Power Station Administration Building began at the corner of Wybrzeże Kościuszkowskie and Tamka streets. Today, the building hosts the seat of the Management Board of the company. Following an overhaul in 1996, the building is the employees’ pride. In line with the "old is beautiful" concept, the building's former, elegant appearance was fully restored.
In 1945-46, efforts were made to reconstruct the war-torn power grid. In 1949, power grid operations related to feeding, distribution and supply were transferred to the newly incorporated Electricity Grid Department. Customer service and technical supervision departments were gradually separated from the power station’s structure, giving rise to the Electricity Sale Department. At the end of the fifties (1958) the Power Distribution Company Warsaw-City (ZEW-M) was established and became responsible for the transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. Warsaw's dynamic growth was accompanied by rapid development of the power distribution network and an increase in the number of subscribers. The demand for electricity continued to grow, fuelled by the development of modern electrical devices as well as radio and television technology.
In 1993, ZEW-M was transformed from a State-owned company into Stołeczny Zakład Energetyczny Spółka Akcyjna (Warsaw Power Distribution Company, a Joint-Stock Company), a fully State Treasury-owned company. Three years later, following the introduction of the Visual Identification System, the former name was expanded to include the STOEN component, which became the Company's sole name as of 1999.
In December 2002 RWE bought 85% of STOEN’s shares from the State. Thus the Warsaw-based company became a part of the international RWE Group.
As of 1stof October 2008 the company’s name was changed to RWE Polska. RWE Polska deals in sale of electricity and supports the development of RWE’s operations on the Polish market. RWE Polska is owned in 100% by RWE.
RWE is also planning to build a total of 300MW wind generation capacities in Poland by 2015. Wind farms will be located in Mazuria, Pomerania and Greater Poland regions. The first wind farm in Suwałki was put on stream in October 2009.
