Consolidated Edison (Con-Ed) Inc. Powerhouses

Consolidated Edison, Inc., often known as Con-Ed, has been one of America’s largest energy companies for decades.  Originally founded in the early 1800s - when New York City was lighted by gas lamps – for many years this company routinely purchased and/or merged with other power companies, leading to an energy monopoly in the greater New York City area that was unmatched.  The company got its name when, in 1936, it purchased the lighting company founded by inventor Thomas Edison. Con-Ed continued to grow throughout the next half-century.  In 1999, the public utilities commission ordered the company to sell off some of its holdings but, nonetheless, Consolidated Edison is still a giant in the industry.

Both the Astoria Powerhouse in Queens and the Arthur Kill Powerhouse in Staten Island were among Con-Ed’s largest powerhouses and were two of the powerhouses that were sold in 1999.  Prior to that, however, these two Con-Ed plants were charged with the task of distributing power, steam and natural gas to millions in the metropolitan area. 

Power plant workers were, for decades, at constant risk for contracting asbestos-related diseases.  The high degree of heat generated by power plants prompts the need for excellent insulation, and prior to the 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were the answer to getting the job done.  Pipes, heaters, pumps, generators, turbines, and boilers were all lined with asbestos or asbestos-containing products.  Because asbestos was so rampant in power plants, even employees who didn’t work directly with insulation or other asbestos products may have been exposed as well.

If you were employed at any of Consolidated Edison’s powerhouses, you may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials.  If you or a loved one who worked for Con-Ed has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you’ll want to learn more about the disease, its treatments, and your rights as a cancer victim.  For more information, order our free Mesothelioma Resource Kit.