1891 - 1897
Under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 370 of the Acts of 1891 allowed a town like Concord to "engage in the manufacture and distribution of gas and electricity." Passage required two consecutive Town Meeting votes in the affirmative by two-thirds of the voters using written or printed ballots.
Because of growing dissatisfaction with the operation and cost of gas street lights, the need for a new sewer pumping plant, and the possible economies of considering a combined electric and sewer power station, the Committees on Electric Lighting and Sewerage recommended the first of the necessary two votes. This would begin the evaluation process of forming a Town-owned electric plant.