Electric power companies continually look at changes in the industry that affect the way they do business. From regulatory and compliance issues to emerging sources of energy, electric power utilities should watch every corner of the energy market to stay competitive and take advantage of sales opportunities.

Electric power utilities face tremendous pressure to go green, keep their rates low and reinvent the way they do business. There is a plethora of electrical utilities news and information being generated that you should find a way to keep up with. Subscribe to email alerts and news feeds that cover electrical power companies. Get your team to assist in the home electricity news gathering process to follow all the trends. Look for electric power news and trends from a variety of sources so as not to miss important developments.

1. Get email alerts and electrical company newsletters.

2. Subscribe to magazines for electric power companies.

3. Participate in associations for electric power providers.

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Accept emails from electric power industry resources

Set up a separate email account to get important alerts, RSS feeds and electrical company newsletters that will send you news as it happens. You can also get the latest trend pieces and information about what the major industry players in electrical utility services are up to.

I recommend: Energy Central is a must-read for electric company professionals to keep up with the latest news. Energy Industry Today provides news from around the world. You can look at specific links to news that affects your particular industry concerns.

Read about the latest home electricity news

Take time to read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the electric power industry further than the headlines. Consider news that's driving regulatory affairs and consumer trends when making business decisions. Take into consideration the opinions of consultants for electrical utility services and electric experts.

I recommend: Read the Electricity Forum for news both nationally and internationally that affects the industry. Find trend pieces and industry tips and information at Electric Light & Power. The EPRI Journal from the Electric Power Research Institute is a leading voice in the industry.

Join trade groups for electric power companies

Electric power professionals work together in trade associations to keep each other apprised of news within their own companies and to try to affect change through lobbying and expert witness services. Get involved with your electric trade association, and take advantage of the networking opportunities. Regularly read the group's newsletters and other communication vehicles for more insider perspectives.

I recommend: The Electric Power Supply Association keep members apprised of breaking news that affects the business operations of members and interested parties. Keep up with the emerging industries involved in solar power through the many resources provided by the Solar Electric Power Association.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find a reliable source for information about local electric utilities that you can delegate an associate to keep up with daily. By taking this reading off your daily agenda, you're both creating time for yourself and allowing a junior team member to learn more about the industry.

Every business relies on energy from electrical power companies. Almost every aspect of your facility requires some sort of electricity, from computers to printers, coffee pots to refrigerators, industrial machinery to security doors. Odds are, you don't really think about electric power until you're without it.

With a multitude of electric power providers and plans available, you have a bevy of decisions to make. Which company offers the best benefits? Which company offers the best service for my business’s needs? Before you can ask these questions of electric power providers, consider the following:

1. Discover electrical power companies in your area.

2. Find electric power companies that offer renewable energy.

3. Use new information about electric power to negotiate pricing and make changes.

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Find local electric utility companies, and choose the best fit

Just because there's one major electrical company in your vicinity, it doesn't mean you have to choose to use its service. Shop around and compare prices. You might be surprised at how you can effectively reduce costs.

I recommend: If your business operates in New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, New York or Texas, Save On Energy can help you determine the best energy companies for your business. Plug in some numbers on its site, and receive a quote. If your business falls in Texas, the Public Utility Commission of Texas allows you to compare the options available to you when making your decision regarding electrical utility services. New York businesses can find their selection of service providers by using a convenient online form at the New York State Department of Public Service. No matter where your business is located, find local electric utilities and order your service online at Allconnect.

Go green, and buy renewable energy from electric power companies

While coal is still the prime fuel for producing electric power, there is a push to find more environmentally-friendly options. Today, renewable energy options exist for electric power that result in lower greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution. Businesses that want to make a positive environmental impact, including PepsiCo., use renewable energy options.

I recommend: Use the search form from Green-e to find a source from which to purchase renewable electricity. Green Energy Choice offers options in providers of electrical utilities that offer green energy. After you select an electrical company and enter your business information, you receive plans and prices available to your business.

Keep on top of the changes in electric power

Whether you're a business looking to purchase electric power or one of the many electric utility companies providing the power, you need to stay informed on the latest options that deal with electric power. Rules and regulations change, as do pricing and delivery.

I recommend: Attend a PGS Energy Training seminar where you’ll learn about electric power operations and how to negotiate the purchase of electricity from power companies. Contact the company for pricing. Sign up for registration information regarding the annual Electric Power conference and exhibition, where attendees rub elbows with industry leaders and discover the latest technologies in electric power.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As environmental mandates become more stringent, more electric power will be provided by the wind, sun and water. California is a leader in such electric power utilities.

Most electric power companies throughout the United States are looking for the top qualified people, and that often means those who hold degrees in electric power engineering. Working with electric power is a complicated and dangerous job, so most people in this field hold at least one four year degree.

However, there are other options for training in the field of electric power engineering. Electrical utilities companies look for electric power engineers who have the proper certifications and qualifications. You can can get these through the following types of programs:

1. A four-year institute that has a specialty in electric power engineering.

2. Online courses that can supplement a traditional education.

3. Working for electric utilities companies as an apprentice.

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Consider four-year programs that train you to work for electric power providers

There are many excellent traditional four year programs in electric power engineering. Electric power engineering education and training will provide anyone with the skills to work a variety of positions at a company that provides electric power. Jobs include designing and maintaining power grids, working on electric lines, and troubleshooting problems in the grid.

I recommend: The Rensselear Polytechnic Institute offers a comprehensive four year program in electric power engineering that covers many topics including modeling and control. Florida International University offers graduate certification in electrical power engineering and management.

Explore additional educational resources for electrical utility services

Along with an accredited education, many people training to be an electric power engineer will also benefit from supplemental information. This can augment class materials, or take a person's training above and beyond what they get in the classroom.

I recommend: Some classes at Ohio University provide their course material online, which can assist others who attend different schools. Waukesha Electric Systems provides seminars for those already certified. These seminars teach additional skills that focus more on the design elements of various power systems.

Sign up for two year programs in electric power engineering education and training

For those seeking certification in electric power engineering but do not want to attend a four-year program can choose a two-year certification. These programs focus only on courses related to certification and provide more hands-on experience for the student. Many certifications programs also offer night classes and online options for convenience.

I recommend: Marion Technical College provides a two-year, full-time program that covers the skills needed to work with electric power utilities. Mid-State Technical College also offers a two-year program in electric power engineering.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you want to work for specific light companies, find out what specific positions they have and how you can best train for the position you want.

Electric power key terms are critical to know for people of all walks of life. From high powered politicians to blue collared workers, electric power is a means to a job for some, while it is meaning of balance of infrastructure for others. Electric power generates the electronics in your home and/or your business. It provides you light. It helps cook your food. Without it, you would be hard pressed to handle even the barest of necessities of survival.

Electric power key terms include scientific terminology that covers the basics of the physics behind the concept. They also include terms on how power is measured for distribution and sales. For whatever reason you need to become familiar with electric power terms, having a general understanding of electric power will help you speak with customers, with sales people or with others in the industry.

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Power

Power is your rate that your electricity is generated and/or used. You measure this in watts, kilowatts (1000 watts) or megawatts (a million watts).

I recommend: Learn more about electrical power at the Tribal Energy Program.

Capacity

Capacity is the maximum amount of power that a power plant can generate.

I recommend: Find out information on existing capacity by energy source from the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy.

Energy

Energy is how much electricity is used over a period of time. This is measured in watt-hours (Wh), kilowatt-hours (kWh), and megawatt-hours (MWh).

I recommend: Find out more about energy from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Net metering

Net metering allows the flow of electricity in both directions, not only from the power grid to the customer, but from the customer's generator back to the power-grid. The customer is then charged (or credited) depending on the net usage and the time of day of the usage based on peak values on energy during certain times of the day.

I recommend: Learn more about net metering from the State Environmental Resource Center.

Demand

Demand, measured in kilowatts, are costs of the generation and transmitting of peak power consumption of a facility.

I recommend: Find out more about Georgia's power demand from Oglethorpe Power.

Capacity factor

Capacity factor is the ratio of energy that plants generates over a certain time period to the amount they could have generated if they were running at full capacity over that same time period.

I recommend: Discover more about capacity factors from UtiliPoint's IssueAlerts.