The Economic Times

In 1886, William Stanley lit a Massachusetts Main Street with a new AC system; his transformer proved electricity could travel farther and still be used safely

On 20 March 1886, William Stanley Jr. successfully demonstrated a transformer system for electrical distribution in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. This system allowed several businesses to use electricity from a central generating station without generating their own power. By raising and lowering voltage, the method reduced energy loss during transmission. Stanley's work contributed to making alternating current electricity a reliable option for widespread use.