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When did they start celebrating Energy Day?
The professional holiday of energy industry workers is more than half a century old, it was approved in 1966. Date 22 December was chosen because it was on this day in 1920 that the State Plan for the Electrification of Our Country (the GOELRO plan) was adopted. From that day on, the history of the energy sector of our country begins. The technological breakthrough made after the approval of the GOELRO plan was huge. So, by 1925, the level of electricity production reached on the eve of the First World War was surpassed.
In the 80s, they decided to shift the holiday in such a way that it always fell on a day off, and they chose the third Sunday of December. But there was no particular point in this – the new date did not take root. And even more so, for most industry specialists, Sunday was still not a day off, because power engineers work continuously.
As a result, in 2015 the fixed date was returned. It turned out to be interesting there: at first, the power engineers were congratulated on the 20th (on the third December Sunday), on the 21st they adopted a decision to postpone the holiday, and it turned out that the next day, the 22nd, can also be celebrated. In general, in 2015, employees of the energy industry walked twice.
By the way, the date chosen for the Power Engineer’s Day has its own specific symbolism. December 22 is also the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Well, and when, if not this evening, the work of workers in the energy industry becomes important, thanks to which light and warmth come to our homes.
Power Engineer’s Day is called one of the most socially significant professional holidays. Indeed, without exaggeration, the entire existence of our country, the work of industrial enterprises, schools, hospitals, and the daily life of people also depend on the workers of this industry.
Energy system in Our Country
Today, our country ranks fourth in the world in terms of electricity generation and export of electricity abroad.
The Unified Energy System (UES) consists of 70 regional energy systems. They are grouped into seven unified energy systems by districts of the country: East, Siberia, Urals, Middle Volga, South, Center and North-West. All these power systems operate in synchronous mode, they are connected by high-voltage power lines with a voltage of 220-500 kilovolts.
The capacity of all power plants in Our Country is almost 240 GW. At the same time, more than one and a half thousand power plants are currently operating in the country. Our annual electricity production is 1 billion kWh.
How the holiday is celebrated
Given the respect for the profession, they try to celebrate the Day of Power Engineers solemnly in every city of our country. In Moscow, for example, festive evenings in honor of industry employees are held at Luzhniki, and top officials of the capital take part in them. Certificates of honor and awards are presented to the best workers in the energy sector, and well-known artists perform in their honor.
And on the Day of Power Engineers, enterprises often hold competitions of professional skills, for example, competitions for electricians. The winner receives a valuable prize from the company’s management. as well as every honor and respect of the team. By the way, there are also international competitions for welders and electricians, and specialists from Our Country show their best at them.
The first electric lamps in Moscow appeared near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
Electric lighting came to Moscow at the end of the century before last. In 1881, in the center of the capital, mostly near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the first 100 electric lamps were installed. Two years later, illumination appeared on the walls of the Kremlin. By the way, the Siemens brothers, the very founders of the famous manufacturing concern, who led their projects in Moscow, were responsible for lighting the main attraction of the capital.
The first Moscow power plant “Georgievskaya” was built in 1888 at the corner of Bolshaya Dmitrovka and Georgievsky lane. Now this building houses the Maly Manege exhibition center.