TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City Light and Power are celebrating their 100th year of powering the northern Michigan community.

State Representative Wayne Schmidt presented a tribute on behalf of the governor to TCLP at tonight's board meeting.

“It’s a great benefit to the community to have had Traverse City Light and Power serving us for the past 100 years,” said Rep. Schmidt. “As a Light and Power customer, I have appreciated the benefits of local control over our electric rates, being able to pick up a phone and get a person if I have a question and knowing that the utility is being run responsibly by my fellow citizens and neighbors.”

TCLP dates back to September 5th, 1912 when the City of Traverse City purchased sixty acres at the Keystone settlement and the property flowage rights seven miles upstream to Brown Bridge Dam and pond from Queen City Light and Power Company. The transaction cost $150,000.

The centennial tribute will end a year's worth of celebration which started in late 2011 with the donation of new LED holiday lights for the main tree in downtown Traverse City.