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Understanding Electricity Utility With Comparison Junction: A Step Forward To Smarter Energy Choices

How Are Electricity Providers And Utility Companies Different?

In deregulated locations of the U.S. the energy providers supply electricity to the customers through various plans and offers. Utility companies deliver energy to your home or business and maintain the power lines and are also responsible for restoration of power loss during an outage.

In such locations, you may shop for providers who suit your needs the best; however, the utility company remains the same. Since, they’re the ones to handle delivery and service issues of any customer. Having a good understanding of these roles can help you navigate your energy options more effectively and save money on electricity bills.

Below is a list of the utility companies in each state.

California Utilities

1. San Diego Gas & Electric

This is the main natural gas utility provider for San Diego and southern Orange County. Established in 1818, it is currently a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy corporation. SDG&E supplies natural gas and electricity to more than 3.6 million customers across a service area covering 4100 square miles.

 

2. Southern California Gas

SoCalGas is the main natural gas utility provider for Southern California, with over 140 years of experience. As a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, it serves more than 20 million customers across over 500 communities. Its service area spans 20,000 square miles, extending from the Mexican border to Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley.

Connecticut Utilities

1. Eversource Energy

Eversource provides electricity to over 1.2 million customers and natural gas to 222,000 customers across the state. It is the largest utility provider in the greater New England area. Eversource was previously known as Connecticut Light & Power.

 

2. United Illuminating

This company was founded in 1899 and headquartered in New Haven, CT, is a regional electric utility. It provides energy to more than 325,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 17 communities in the Bridgeport and New Haven areas. The company is a subsidiary of Avangrid.

Georgia Utilities

1. Atlanta Gas Light

Founded in 1856, Atlanta Gas Light, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, is the largest natural gas distributor in the southeastern United States. It serves more than 1.6 million residential and commercial customers in Georgia and delivers gas to over 4.5 million customers overall. Both Atlanta Gas Light and AGL Resources are headquartered in Atlanta.

Illinois Utilities

1. Commonwealth Edison Company

ComEd delivers utility services to 3.8 million customers in Illinois. It is a subsidiary of the energy corporation Exelon Corp.

2. Ameren

Ameren Illinois, headquartered in Collinsville, IL is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation. It provides electricity to over 1.2 million customers and natural gas to 816,000 customers across central and southern Illinois. The company also manages more than 45,000 miles of electrical lines and 18,000 miles of natural gas pipelines.

3. North Shore Seas

This is a regulated natural gas utility serving the northern suburbs of Chicago. It provides natural gas to 159,000 customers in Cook and Lake counties. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, North Shore gas is a subsidiary of People’s Gas and was established in 1856.

4. Nicor Gas

Established in 1954, Nicor Gas is the largest natural gas utility in northern Illinois, serving the northern third of the state. The company operates, maintains, and manages more than 34,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. A subsidiary of AGL Resources, Nicor Gas, has been in operation since 1954.

Maine Utilities

1. Central Maine Power

Founded in 1899, the Central Maine Power Company provides service to more than 600,000 customers in central and southern Maine, covering an area of 11,000 square miles. The organization is responsible for maintaining and repairing over 25,000 miles of electrical lines.

2. Versant Power

Formerly known as Emera Maine, versant Power serves nearly 160,000 customers in Maine. Its service areas encompass both the Bangor Hydro and Maine Public districts.

Maryland Utilities

1. Baltimore Gas & Electric

Baltimore Gas & Electric, the oldest gas utility in the United States and the utility in Maryland, serves an area of more than 2,300 square miles. It provides electricity to 1.25 million residential and small business customers and manages over 25,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon.

2. Delmarva Power & Light

Founded in 1909, Delmarva power provides electricity to 515,000 customers in Maryland and Delaware and delivers natural gas to more than 129,000 customers. It is a subsidiary of Exelon.

3. PEPCO

Since 1896, PEPCO has been providing energy to customers in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The utility company fosters global sustainability efforts through its WaterShed Sustainability Center.

4. Potomac Edison

The company delivers energy to thousands of homes and businesses throughout the state. The company offers various resources to help customers save both energy and money. Potomac Edison is a part of FirstEnergy.

5. Washington Gas Light

The company is the main natural gas utility for the District of Columbia, supplying natural gas to over a million homes and businesses in the Washington D.C. area. It is a subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc.

Massachusetts Utilities

1. Unitil (Fitchburg Gas & Electric)

Unitil is an electric and natural gas utility serving customers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It provides electricity to over 104,300 customers, and natural gas to 79,900 customers. Its service area includes Fitchburg, MA, Concord, NH, as well as Portland and Lewiston in Maine.

2. National Grid

National Grid is the largest natural gas distributor in the northeastern United States, supplying natural gas to 3.6 million customers in these states. The company is headquartered in Great Britain.

Michigan Utilities

1. DTE Energy

DTE provides electricity to more than 2.1 million customers in southeastern Michigan and transmits natural gas to approximately 1.2 million customers in northern and central Michigan. It is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.

2. Michigan Gas Utilities

Michigan Gas Utilities provides energy to approximately 170,000 customers in southwest Michigan. Its service area includes Grand Haven, Otsego, Benton Harbor, Coldwater, and Monroe. Previously known as Aquila Energy, Michigan gas Utilities is a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group.

3. SEMCO Energy

SEMCO Energy Gas Company is a regulated public utility serving approximately 290,000 residential and commercial, and industrial customers across Michigan. Its service area spans parts of both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.

New York Utilities

1. Central Hudson Gas & Electric

Central Hudson Gas & Electric provides service to 300,000 customers in New York’s Mid-Hudson River Valley. Its service area stretches from the New York City suburbs in the south to Albany in the north, encompassing Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Beacon and Kingston.

2. Consolidated Edison Co

Founded in 1823, Consolidated Edison Co. has grown into one of the world ‘s largest energy delivery companies. ConEd serves 10 million customers across various regions of New York.

3. National Grid

Keyspan New York, a subsidiary of National Grid -the largest natural gas distributor in the Northeast-delivers service to 3.6 million natural gas customers and 3.4 million electricity customers across New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

4. Rochester Gas & Electric

Rochester Gas & Electric provides electricity and natural gas service to customers in and around Rochester, New York. RG&E serves nearly 700,000 customers across nine counties and is a subsidiary of AVANGRID.

Ohio Utilities

1. Duke Energy Ohio

Duke Energy Ohio, a subsidiary of Duke Energy-America’s largest electric power holding company-provides electricity to 840,000 homes and businesses in southern Ohio. Its service area spans 3,000 square miles, including the city of Cincinnati.

2. Ohio Edison

Ohio Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, provides electricity to more than a million customers in central and northeastern Ohio. Its service area covers Ashland, Champaign, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Knox, Miami, Union, and Wayne counties. The company operates over 30,000 miles of electrical power lines.

3. AEP Ohio

Ohio Power, a subsidiary AEP Ohio, transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 1.5 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Columbus, the company operates over 31,000 miles of electric lines, ensuring reliable service delivery to homes and businesses.

4. Toledo Edison

Toledo Edison provides electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers in northwestern Ohio. It is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy.

5. Dominion East

The company is a subsidiary of Dominion Resources-one of the largest energy distributors in the United States-serves millions of customers across 12 states.

6. Vectren Energy Delivery

The company provides natural gas to more than a million residential and commercial customers in Ohio and Indiana. In Ohio, it serves 314,000 customers in the western and central parts of the state, including the cities of Dayton, Troy, Bellefontaine, Centerville, and Fairborn. The company is headquartered in Evansville, IN.

Pennsylvania Utilities

1. Duquesene Light

This is the main electric utility provider for the Pittsburgh region, supplying power to more than 500,000 residential and business customers across an 817-square-mile service area. It manages over 45,000 miles of overhead power lines. Founded in the late 1870’s by renowned inventor George Westinghouse, the company has a long history of providing reliable electricity to the area.

2. Metropolitan Edison

This is an Akron-based electricity utility company, serving central and eastern Pennsylvania. It provides electricity to more than 560,000 customers across a 3,300-square-mile service area that covers part of Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lebanon Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike and York counties. The company is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy.

3. National Fuel Gas

As the name suggests it is a natural gas utility that provides service to western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. It also covers the areas of Sharon and Erie. the company delivers energy to 740,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and is headquartered in Williamsville, NY.

4. PECO

The Philadelphia Electric Company is the largest utility company providing both natural gas and electricity. It serves 1.6 million electric customers and 485,000 natural gas customers. Its service area spans 2,100 square miles, including Philadelphia, Coatesville, Pottstown, Norristown, and Willow Grove.

5. Peoples Gas

In 2013, People Gas acquired Equitable Gas. It now serves more than 700,000 natural gas customers across western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. In Pennsylvania, its service area includes Pittsburgh, Altoona, Clarion, Johnstown and Uniontown.

6. PPL Electric Utilities

PPL Electric Utilities serves close to 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, making it one of the largest utility companies in the state. A leader in the industry for nearly 30 years, PPL continues to focus on enhancing customer communication and power delivery.

7. UGI Central Penn Gas

This is a natural gas and electric utility that provides energy to over 650,000 customers in numerous communities throughout Pennsylvania. Founded in 1944 and formerly known as PPL Gas Utilities, its service area includes parts of Monroe, Carbon, Lancaster, Clarion, Venango, McKean, Clearfield, Potter, Schuylkill, Bradford, and Chester counties. Headquartered in Allentown, PA, the company is a subsidiary of UGI Utilities, Inc.

8. UGI Penn Natural Gas

This is the largest natural gas distribution company in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. It provides energy to approximately 158,000 customers, including those in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport. The company was established in 1854.

9. West Pen Power

West Penn Power is a natural gas and electric utility headquartered in Greensburg, PA. It provides energy to more than 724,000 electric customers across 24 counties in Pennsylvania. The company is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Texas Utilities

1. AEP Texas Central

AEP Texas Central is an electricity utility company serving southern and central Texas. It provides energy to more than 800,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. AEP Texas Central is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, one of the largest electrical utilities in the United States.

2. AEP Texas North

This is an electric utility that serves more than 49 counties and 176 cities across central, northern, and western Texas. It supplies energy to over 184,000 residential, commercial, and business customers and manages over 18,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines. Earlier it was known as West Texas Utilities.

3. CenterPoint Energy

The headquarter is located in Houston, this is the city’s primary electrical utility. It provides electricity to 2 million residents and businesses in the Houston area. The company has received awards for its outstanding service and commitment to environmental stewardship.

4. Oncor Electric Delivery

This covers 402 cities and 91 counties in Texas, making it one of the largest electric utilities in the state. The company utilizes advanced energy technologies to enhance and manage its 3.4 million meters and 122,000 miles of power lines.

5. Texas-New Mexico Power

The company serves approximately 236,000 customers across more than 20 communities in the state. Its service area includes cities such as Kermit, Sanderson, Gatesville, Whitney, Farmersville, Angleton, and Texas City. The utility operates over 9,000 miles of electric power lines and distribution wires. TNMP is headquartered in Lewisville, TX.

In regulated states the situation is pretty straight forward. You’ll always receive electricity or natural gas from a designated utility. Your utility is assigned based on your location, and there is no option to switch.

In most deregulated states, the utility still delivers electricity and/or natural gas to your home or business, but you have the freedom to choose whether to purchase those products from the utility or from a supplier.

To make an informed decision, you’ll want to check the utility’s “price to compare” the cost of basic electricity supply. This should appear separately on your monthly bill from the delivery charges. Once you know the price to compare, you can use Comparison Junction to compare and get your hand on a best deal for yourself.

In Texas, you must purchase an electricity plan from a retail electric provider. Comparison Junction’s easy to use platform will help you navigate through your options allowing you to compare plans by rate, terms, renewable content and many more.