Perhaps you don’t think much about your utility company. You might call them when your power is out or to hook up electric in your new house, but other than paying your bill each month, you probably don’t think about your utility company. It’s strange that something so important to everyone in the world is one of the least talked about and thought about things around. And you might not even know how profitable and large these companies actually are. Here are the largest utility companies in the U.S.
Pacific Gas & Electric – $20.86 billion
PG&E is a company you’ve heard of. Not only is this San Francisco based companies one of the largest utility companies in the country, it’s a famous one. If ever you’ve watched the Julia Roberts’ movie, “Erin Brockovich,” you might remember the problems with PG&E that the characters in the movie faced. Now it’s one of the most well-known companies in the country.
Exelon – $26.82 billion
It’s one of the biggest electric companies in the United States, and it’s because of a recent merger. In 2012, Exelon merged with a company called Constellation Energy, making it one of the biggest in the country. The company was founded in 2000 and it has its base office in Chicago.
Southern Company – $39 Billion
The Southern Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public electric utility company. The company is involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity through coal, nuclear, oil and gas, and hydro resources in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. It constructs, acquires, owns, and manages generation assets, including renewable energy projects.
NextEra Energy – $41.2 billion
It’s commonly referred to as FLP, Florida Light & Power. NextEra’s main subsidiary is FLP, which is why the company is commonly referred to by this name. The company handles electric for approximately 4-and-a-half million Florida residents. With headquarters in both Juno Beach, Florida and Wilton, Connecticut, it’s one of the largest companies in the US.
Duke Energy – $51.23 billion
When Duke Energy merged with Progress Energy back in 2012, it became the largest utility company in the country. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, it’s the biggest with more than 7 million customers . The company services homes and businesses across five other states in addition to North Carolina.
(Photo by Davis Turner/Getty Images)
