The History of Electrical Department dates back to 1910.  Until then, lighting of the city was done by oil lights.  The streetlamps were first introduced in 1785.  Till 1857 there were only 200 oil light lamps.  By the year 1910, there were 6500 oil lights.  Electric streetlighting was introduced for the first time, during 1910.  The improvement of lighting on this account was so marked that the number of electric lights gradually increased till the year 1924-25, where all the lights were completely electric lights. Later, the streetlights were of fluorescent lamps and then Mercury lamps & Sodium vapour lamps. Then during the year 2013, the energy saving LED streetlights were introduced & now all the streetlights are energy saving LED streetlights..

The Electrical Department is mainly responsible for the installation & maintenance of streetlights and all electrical installations in Greater Chennai Corporation buildings, schools, Amma unavagams, hospitals, parks, playgrounds and burial grounds.

Wireless walkie-talkie sets have been provided to all Zonal Offices, field level officials and the vehicles of Zonal Officers and other higher officers for easy communication in performing daily civic routine works of Greater Chennai Corporation.  This is also useful during natural calamities, fire accidents and elections.  In case of fire accidents occurring during the night, temporary lighting arrangements at the accident site and other emergency works are carried out.  18 mobile high mast vehicles and 15 portable high masts with generators are being kept ready for these emergency works.

There are currently 17 subways in the jurisdiction of the Greater Chennai Corporation. Electrical submersible motors have been installed in the center of these subways along with Diesel Genset to ensure uninterrupted operation during power cuts. Uninterrupted 24/7 operation is ensured by the Electrical department.

In the low lying and flood inundated areas electrical submersible pumps have been provided temporarily along with Diesel Gensets to ensure uninterrupted operation during the rainy season.

Internet service provider companies run fiber optic cables over the ground and under the ground to provide Internet services to the general public and other establishments in the Greater Chennai Corporation area. As per the Tamil Nadu government order, the Right of Way permissions for telecom infrastructure are being processed by the Assistant Executive Engineers of the Electrical department in coordination with Assistant Revenue Officers.

In GCC jurisdiction, unwanted internet and cable TV wires tied over streetlight lamp posts are removed and set – right every Saturday in one ward per Zone on a regular basis. This work is also carried out while attending / repairing of streetlights.

Cable TV:
          As per the TN urban local body rules, track rent is being collected for cable TV wires carried over streetlight poles in GCC.

Solar Roof Top Plants have been installed in 722 Greater Chennai Corporation owned buildings with a capacity generation of 3,239 Mwp. Due to this, Rs.3 crore per year is being saved towards current consumption charges.