Provider of gas and electric services to residents and businesses in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and southern New Jersey.
www.aenergy.com
Provider of electric utility services to customers across the US.
www.aep.com
Minnesota Power generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity to about 140,000 customers in northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.
www.allete.com
Provider of operational services supplying electricity-generating power plants to consumers in eight states.
www.basinelectric.com
Provider of energy supply and infrastructure services, including integrated communications, thermal technologies and energy-efficient offerings.
www.ceco.com
Natural gas and electricity utility serving New York region. Production, distribution and marketing of energy.
www2.centralhudson.com
The utility company supplies electricity to five prefectures in the Chubu region at the center of Japan.
www.chuden.co.jp
CMP delivers over 9 billion kilowatt-hours of energy a year to more than 540,000 electric customers.
www.cmpco.com
CT&E has provided a wide range of technical and analytical services to the suppliers & users of coal and minerals since 1908.
www.comteco.com
Natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline, and electricity generation (from fossil fuel, nuclear and hydro), transmission and distribution.
www.consumersenergy.com
State-of-the-Art Transmission Control Center for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts; this site contains a real-time power advisory sytem for Connecticut
www.cvx.com
Provider of transmission, distribution and delivery services of electricity and natural gas.
www.delmarva.com
Provider of electricity and customer service to customers living in North Carolina and South Carolina.
www.dukepower.com
Markets the output of small independent power projects, and offers green power nationwide on both retail and wholesale basis through a rate swap.
home.earthlink.net
Provider of parent corporation services to Southern California Edison, Edison Mission Energy, Edison Capital, and Edison Enterprises, all focusing on energy utility services.
www.edison.com
Florida-based, investor-owned, electricity provider and distributor.
www.fpl.com
Purchase, distribute, and sell retail electricity to New Hampshire.
www.granitestateelectric.com
A subsidiary of IDACORP Inc., providing electric service to Idaho and parts of Oregon and Nevada. Operate hydro and coal-fired plants, and offer consulting services.
www.idahopower.com
Provider of electric, natural gas, water and steam services to customers in four Midwestern states.
www.ies-energy.com
Provider of utility services including electric, natural gas and water.
ies-energy.com
Public utility providing electricity and natural gas to Illinois.
www.illinoispower.com
Integrated UK energy business comprising of: a generation and trading business with a portfolio of around 8,000 megawatts (MW) of UK gas, coal and oil-fired generating plant, an energy trading capability and a supply of fuels.
www.innogy.com
Energy services company that owns and operates businesses in power generation; project development; asset-based energy marketing; and retail gas and electric distribution services.
www.lgeenergy.com
Energy resource provider, including coal mining, electricity distribution, and oil & gas production and distribution.
www.mdu.com
Wholly owned subsidiary of The National Grid Group, a global, U.K.-based company involved in the management of electricity delivery systems and the development of telecommunications networks.
www.nationalgrid.com
A NiSource Company, NIPSCO is a regulated utility that provides natural gas and electricity to northern Indiana.
www.nipsco.nisource.com
independent natural gas distribution and transportation company in New Jersey and subsidiary of New Jersey Resources Corp.
www.njng.com
Oglethorpe Power supplies power to 39 of Georgia's 42 Electric Membership Corporations (EMC's) which serve nearly three million Georgians living in approximately two-thirds of the state's land area.
www.opc.com
Provides utility services, electricity and water; the purpose of a PUD is to sell at cost-based rates (no profit added in), thereby offering lower prices.
www.opuda.org
A subsidiary of Consolidated Edison Inc., distributing natural gas and electricity to New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
www.oru.com
A subsidiary of Enron Corp, providing water, coal and gas powered electricity generation and distribution.
www.portlandgeneral.com
A Sempra Energy subsidiary, providing natural gas and electricity.
www.sdge.com
A Fort Worth, Texas based holding company whose subsidiaries provide electricity and energy services in Texas and New Mexico.
www.tnpe.com
Xcel Energy Inc. is a utility holding company with six public utility subsidiaries.
www.xcelenergy.com
Electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
www.yonden.co.jp
|
|
|
Investor owned energy utilities are regulated differently than publicly owned utilities. For example, they are required to pay taxes as corporate citizens and they must adhere to state-specific laws and guidelines. Additionally, private utility companies are closely regulated to protect consumers. In many cases, customers of private utilities can receive assistance with utility disputes and issues by contacting their state commission.
Investor-owned water utilities are rare because in most cases, water is a utility supplied by the local government. Typically, private utilities provide telephone, gas and electric services. Municipal or publicly owned utilities are electricity, water or gas facilities owned locally and are generally run by an elected board of commissioners. Consider the following tips to help you learn more about investor-owned utilities laws and regulations and how these might affect your business.
1. Learn about how state public utility commissions are regulated.
2. Understand how regulation-issuing federal agencies operate when dealing with nuclear energy and interstate sales of energy.
3. Familiarize yourself with the “cap and trade” movement for the cost-effective reduction of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Read about state public utility commissions' regulations
States have specific laws and regulations to which investor-owned utilities must adhere. Individuals receiving service from municipal utilities are not as protected as those served by private utilities because publicly owned utilities are generally not regulated by state public utility commissions.
I recommend: ConsumerLaw.com discusses the differences in public utility company (PUC) and Public Service Commission (PSC) regulations and how theyir work differs from unregulated utilities, including municipalities and Rural Electric Cooperatives (REC). UtilityRegulation.com provides access to industry reports concerning public utility commissions. These reports include both telecommunications and energy as well as other general reports that not only discuss regulations, but also planning, utility rates, restructuring and market developments.
Understand how regulation-issuing federal agencies operate when dealing with nuclear energy
When nuclear energy first became a viable power source for the U.S. in the early 1970s, the government created the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials to produce energy for the civilian population. The NRC regulates three main areas involving nuclear energy - the reactors, materials and the waste. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also has a hand in regulating energy sources (electricity, oil and natural gas) and their interstate transmission.
I recommend: The NRC’s website offers an explanation of and links to regulation guidelines, radiation and fire protection information, emergency preparedness guidelines and strategic plan. The Federal Register provides access to the NCR’s articles of operation, including those discussing licenses of use of byproduct material, requirements for industrial radiographic operations and standards for protection against radiation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lists on its website the aspects of energy regulation that fall within their responsibility and areas in which they do not have control, namely the regulation of consumer sales of retail natural gas and electricity.
Familiarize yourself with the 'cap and trade' movement
A recent movement within the energy industry and government regulatory agencies is called 'cap and trade,' which would look at cost-effective methods for cost-effective reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions. In essence, the concept would cap (set a maximum limit) on greenhouse gas amounts a company can emit. The trade aspect of the movement would allow those companies emitting less than their limit to sell their extra permits to the higher emitters, making for more easily controllable greenhouse gas emissions.
I recommend: Read more about how the “cap and trade” program would work at AmericanProgress.com. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website also discusses this tool for regulation of environmental policy putting a mandatory cap on emissions with flexibility for complying.
Investor-owned utilities (or private utilities) help maintain the infrastructure for the public sector. Investor owned electrical utilities and investor owned water utilities are found in every state. Many private utilities give to the communities they serve by sponsoring local sports and offering scholarships.
Investor owned utility companies are represented in the energy market through electric, water and gas usage for residential and business customers. The private utilities' websites provide energy rates and consumer information for residential and business use. They list regulatory matters that affect them and include shareholder and investor information.
When investigating private utilities, know that:
1. Investor-owned utilities are vital to the infrastructure of the country.
2. Investor-owned electric utilities, investor owned water utilities and investor owned gas utilities can be bought and sold on the stock exchange.
3. Each utility is regulated by its state's Public Utility Commission. All investor owned energy utilities advise their customers on energy saving and money saving ways to reduce energy.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Take time to know your investor-owned utilities
Everyone is using an investor-owned utility of some kind. Take a look at the utility's website to find information for residential and business consumers, investors and energy-related issues that can affect you.
I recommend: Con Edison's website provides information on how to go green, storm alerts, as well as investor information. Gulf Power provides energy and money-saving tips for its consumers.
Use the resources of your private utilities
Many shareholder-owned utilities give investment opportunities directly from their websites.
I recommend: A list of investor owned utilities will help you identify the private utilities that serve your community. Energy East allows residents of the areas they service to enroll in its Investor Services Plan. Integrys has an Investor Service Plan that can be opened for as little as $100.
Research the benefits that you may get from your private utility
Privately owned utilities often provide community service programs for the areas in which they provide energy.
I recommend: Pacific Gas and Electric Company provides under-served communities with energy alternatives and its members volunteer in helping to build new homes. It also offers scholarships for college-bound students. National Grid gives scholarships, educates students and supports local sports.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- • Use the information from your investor owned utility companies' websites to see if you can save money by following their tips, get rebates when you install energy-efficient products, or apply for a scholarship.
- • Pay your bill online and monitor your electric, gas and water usage. If you find your bill running higher and you haven't changed your energy usage, contact the utility to find out if there is an error on its end.
Investor-owned utilities are power or utility companies that are "public" in that individual shareholders can get involved in the company through holding stock in it. Investor owned utilities or IOUs are the norm in America's energy sector, and the ins and outs of dealing with these businesses are part of daily commerce for any residential community. Knowing a little about key terms regarding how IOUs work will help a business to figure out its role in using connections with these utility providers effectively.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Private utilities
Investor-owned utilities are often called 'private utilities' to distinguish them from 'public utilities,' or utility companies that are government owned. Other times, the label is just shortened to 'IOU' for 'investor owned utilities.'
I recommend: See a list of synonyms including those mentioned above at the Energy Vortex.
Publicly traded utilities
Investor owned utilities are also called 'shareholder owned' because of the specific way that investors 'own' the company, through buying shares in it. Therefore, an IOU is often publicly traded, which means it is bought and sold, in shares, through a public stock exchange.
I recommend: Look under "IOU" in this glossary from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy to see more on terms for IOUs.
Stock ticker
Old-time stock tickers were actual printed ticker tapes with stock prices on them. Today's are electronic running reports of a stock price. Investors rely on IOU stock tickers for looking at share price fluctuations over time for an investor-owned utility.
I recommend: See more on stock tickers at NASDAQ.
Public utility commission
A public utility commission is a state board that regulates factors of IOUs and other utility companies.
I recommend: Take a look at information on public utility commissions by state at this page from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is becoming a prime mover in the larger energy market. Solar, water, wind and biofuels are all renewable energy sources that could be worked into the operations of an investor owned utility.
I recommend: Find out more about renewable energies at this National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Operating expenses statistics
Some of the data on IOUs is widely available to the public. Operating expenses are financial estimates of the costs of maintaining the operations of IOUs.
I recommend: See a chart of operating expenses statistics for major IOUs in America at this chart from the federal Energy Information Administration.


