JUAN VICENTE PARDO Y SU PAPEL EN LA ELECTRIFICACIÓN DE ALCIRA

Abstract

The electrification of the current Valencian Community was a slow process that began at the end of the 19th century. The electrical development started in dispersed industrial centers such as Alcoy; Silla and Alcira getting energy from small waterfalls together with some thermal installations. Juan Vicente Pardo was a pioneer in the electrification of the towns of Carcagente and Alcira through ‘La Pajarilla’ Company. He produced the fluid in a mill of his property located in nerarer Verde River. Later he also supplied other towns as Corbera, Sueca and Albaida. The beginning of its activity takes place in 1897, considering the market of public lighting as his main business target. Upon the death of Mr. Pardo and his wife Asunción Sánchez, the company was continued by his 9 sons with the name of Herencias Pardo-Sánchez. The subsequent vertical integration of the electricity sector that occurred in the first third of the 20th century marked the end of the company that was first acquired by Volta SA and in 1941 absorbed by Hidroeléctrica Española.