The Progressive Era was a period that aimed to make a series of reforms aiming to solve a series of problems caused by industrialization and urbanization. It was mostly supported by the middle-classes.
There were political reforms, educational reforms, anti-corruption reforms, and others. One of the most important reforms of the Progressive Era was that during this period, there was a growth of the public ownership of water, gas and electric services.
Before the Progressive Era, private companies offered more expensive services than the municipality, that had the possibility of offering lower rates.