Hydroelectric "White Coal" in the eponymous village of Stavropol Territory is the first commercial hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in the Russian Empire. HPP was built in 1903 on a mountain river Podkumok Vladikavkaz and operate the railway. Power HPS - 990 l (740 kW), the voltage - 8000 V. The project is designed by renowned engineers station Chatelain MA and Graftio GO

Construction of the station was launched in May 1903. In August of that year were running turbines that supply electricity to four resort town of the region. Thanks to GES "White Coal" city streets were lit lanterns, running tram lines Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk. Also, the electricity generated by power plants resulted in the movement of pumps to supply mineral water to health institutions.

Ten years after the launch of the first hydroelectric M. Chatelain for the experiment for the first time in Russia carried out a parallel operation Pyatigorsk diesel power and hydroelectric power plants "White Coal".

In 1943, during World War II hydroelectric power plant is almost completely destroyed. At the end of hostilities by the State Committee of Defense of the USSR, it was decided to resume its work. In 1947, the hydroelectric power plant work again, had launched new turbine production plant of the Urals, which are driven by two generators of 350 kW.

In 1977, HPP "White Coal" was stopped because of damage to water intake during the spring floods: over the banks of the river Podkumok almost completely destroyed the main building of the plant. In 1989-1990. again tried to resume the HPP. But in the end it lasted only ten years, after which the next flood destroyed the intake dam. In December 2003, in the building of hydroelectric power station "White Coal" have opened a small museum.