McNelley Electric Service, 504 North Ave, Wakefield, MA 01880, US

The Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department WMGLD celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 1994. The company serves the electrical and natural gas needs of businesses and residences in Wakefield, Mass. Wakefield Municipal was originally established in 1893 when the citizens of Wakefield purchased the plant, land and manufacturing equipment of the Citizens Gas & Light Company. A major change in WMGLD operations occurred in 1979 when Town Meeting voted to increase the number of Light Commissioners from three to five. The 1980s were years of increasing load demand for the department, particularly in the areas where new homes and businesses were being developed. WMGLD also expanded to offer fiber optic cable to the community to provide modern communication to municipal buildings. The company also added after-hours automated telephone service, which enabled customers to record meter readings and report unlit street lights.