Trystan Casey
Electricity companies, also known as light companies or retail energy providers, are essential to our daily lives. They provide electricity to homes and businesses and are responsible for ensuring a safe, reliable, and cost-effective power supply. These companies are either producers or distributors of electricity, and their sources range from coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydropower to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass. The largest utility company in the world by revenue is Électricité de France SA, while the US has around 1,600 electric utility companies, including leaders such as MidAmerican Energy, Exelon, and Southern Company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of electricity companies in the US | 1,600 |
| Companies providing electricity in the US | Entergy Arkansas, Inc., United Power, Inc., Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, La Plata Electric Association, St. Cloud Utilities, Diverse Power Inc., GreyStone Power Corp., Hawaiian Electric Light Company (HELCO), Beauregard Electric Co-op Inc., Calpine Corp, MidAmerican Energy, Exelon, Tennessee Valley Authority, NextEra Energy, Southern Company, NRG Energy, FirstEnergy Corp, Georgia Power, Con Edison, Rocky Mountain Power, and more |
| Companies providing electricity outside the US | Électricité de France SA (EDF), Enel SpA, E.ON, Engie |
| Electricity sources | Wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, coal, natural gas, hydropower, biomass |
| Electricity plans | Fixed-rate plans, wholesale electricity |
| Customer base | Residential, commercial, industrial |
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What You'll Learn
Largest electricity providers in the US
The largest electricity providers in the US are typically referred to as electric utility companies. These companies provide the public with vital commodities or services such as power, natural gas, and water.
As of June 2023, the leading electric utility company in the US based on market value was NextEra Energy, at almost $153 billion. NextEra Energy is also the leading electric utility company worldwide in terms of market value. The company has made large investments in renewable electricity capacity, challenging established energy companies operating in the oil sector, such as Chevron and Shell.
The second-largest electric utility company in the US is the Georgia-based Southern Company, with a market value of almost $82 billion.
Other major electricity retailers in the US include Florida Power & Light Company, the largest retailer of electricity in the country by sector in 2022.
Some other US electric companies include:
- Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
- Rockland Electric
- Consumers Power Inc.
- Rural Valley Electric Co.
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Largest electricity providers worldwide
The largest electricity providers worldwide include:
NextEra Energy
Headquartered in Florida, United States, NextEra Energy was the largest electric utility company worldwide in 2024, with a market value of 156 billion U.S. dollars. It has been growing since the end of the COVID-19 crisis.
Tokyo Electron
Tokyo Electron, a Japanese company, was the second-largest electric utility company in 2024, with a market value of 107.5 billion U.S. dollars.
State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)
State-owned SGCC was the world's biggest power company in 2018, with a revenue of $347 billion. It distributes electricity in 26 provinces, covering 88% of China's territory and serving over 1.1 billion people. SGCC also owns transmission assets in several other countries.
Électricité de France SA (EDF)
EDF, a French state-owned company, is the largest utility company in the world by revenue. It provides services such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and trading, and its production is mostly free from carbon dioxide emissions. EDF's revenue increased by 6.3% year-on-year to reach $77.8 billion in 2018.
Enel SpA
Enel is a multinational power company headquartered in Rome, with a presence in 30 countries, mainly in Europe and Latin America. The company has a focus on renewable energy and has announced plans to increase its renewable capacity while phasing out conventional power generation.
E.ON
E.ON is a Germany-based international energy supplier with operations across Europe. It operates more than 5GW of renewable power plants worldwide and also has a nuclear power business in Germany.
Engie
Previously known as GDF Suez, Engie is a French multinational utility company with operations in 31 countries. It provides a broad spectrum of energy and environmental services, including electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, and renewable energy. Engie's revenues increased by 5.4% year-on-year in 2019.
General Electric (GE)
GE's energy segments (Power, Renewable Energy, and Lighting) generated $38.5 billion in revenues, accounting for 31.7% of the company's total revenue of $121.6 billion during the year. GE's renewable energy segment has been growing, while the power segment has seen a decline in recent years.
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State-owned electricity providers
In the United States, there are various examples of state-owned electricity providers, including cooperatives (co-ops) and publicly-run utilities. Co-ops are not-for-profit, member-owned utilities that are prevalent in rural areas and have been instrumental in bringing electricity to communities not covered by investor-owned utilities or municipal utilities. The largest co-op in the US is the Pedernales Electric Co-op in Johnson City, Texas, with nearly 333,809 customers.
Publicly-run utilities, on the other hand, are owned and operated by local governments. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, municipalities ran most utilities, and their prevalence continued until technological improvements in generation and transmission made smaller plants uneconomical. One example of a publicly-run utility is the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), established by Congress in 1933 to address environmental, economic, and technological issues, including the need for low-cost electricity in the Tennessee Valley.
Outside of the United States, there are several notable state-owned electricity providers. Électricité de France SA (EDF), a French state-owned company, is the largest utility company in the world by revenue. It provides services such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and trading, and its production is 90% free from carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. Enel SpA, based in Rome, is another leading state-owned electricity provider with a presence in 30 countries, primarily in Europe and Latin America. It is a multinational power company with a focus on renewable energy.
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Private electricity providers
In the United States, several prominent private electricity providers have established themselves as leaders in the industry, supplying electricity to millions of consumers across the country. Calpine Corp, for instance, is a major player in the electricity market, with a fleet of 76 power plants capable of generating more than 26,000 megawatts of power, enough to cater to approximately 20 million homes. The company serves customers in 22 states, as well as Canada and Mexico, through its wholesale power operations and retail businesses, Calpine Energy Solutions and Champion Energy.
Another key player in the US market is Entergy, which owns and operates a large-scale, carbon-free power-generating fleet, including nuclear, natural gas, and renewable energy sources. Entergy stands out for its commitment to a clean energy profile, with one of the cleanest power-generating operations in the country.
MidAmerican Energy is also a significant private electricity provider, serving nearly 1.6 million customers across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. The company has been in the energy sector since 1986, initially focusing on natural gas markets before expanding into electricity in 1999.
Exelon is one of the largest utility companies in the nation, serving over 10 million customers through six fully regulated utilities. Exelon's operations span major metropolitan areas in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Outside of the US, Électricité de France SA (EDF) is a prominent player in the global electricity market. As a French state-owned enterprise, EDF provides a comprehensive range of services, including power generation, transmission, distribution, and trading. The company has a strong focus on environmental sustainability, with 90% of its worldwide production being free from carbon dioxide emissions.
Enel SpA, based in Rome, is another multinational power company with a presence in 30 countries, primarily in Europe and Latin America. Enel is committed to renewable energy and is a significant force in the global power and gas markets.
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Renewable energy providers
Renewable energy is a growing industry, with an increasing number of companies specializing in providing renewable electricity. These companies are either large, established utility providers that offer renewable energy as part of a broader portfolio of energy sources, or they are smaller, niche companies that focus on renewable energy exclusively.
Some of the biggest utility companies in the world, such as Électricité de France SA (EDF), are making significant headway into renewable energy sources. EDF, for example, currently generates 90% of its power free from carbon dioxide emissions worldwide, and 96% in France. Enel SpA, a multinational power company based in Rome, is another large player in the renewable energy space, with a presence in 30 countries. Engie, a French multinational utility company, operates in 31 countries and offers electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, and renewable energy.
In the United States, NextEra Energy is one of the world's largest wind and solar energy generators, with a diverse portfolio that also includes nuclear power and natural gas. The company has a generating capacity of about 58 GW, revenues of over $18 billion in 2020, and about 14,900 employees throughout the US and Canada. Another US company, Constellation Energy, provides electrical, nuclear, and natural gas services to business, residential, and public sector customers.
There are also smaller, more specialized companies that focus on renewable energy exclusively. Canadian Solar, for example, is a Canada-based solar energy company that designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic modules and provides energy solutions to customers in more than 160 countries. Similarly, Brookfield Renewable, a Canada-based limited partnership, owns and operates renewable power assets, with a primary focus on hydroelectric power operations, as well as wind, solar, and distributed generation facilities.
Some companies, like Daqo New Energy, provide products and services to the renewable energy industry. Daqo New Energy supplies the solar PV industry with high-purity polysilicon, which is used to make solutions for solar power, such as cells and wafers.
Many companies are also offering renewable electricity directly to consumers, either through power providers or independent clean power generators. These companies often charge a small premium to cover the increased costs of generating renewable energy.
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Frequently asked questions
Some of the largest electricity companies in the US include:
- Calpine Corp.
- Entergy.
- MidAmerican Energy.
- Exelon.
- Southern Company.
- NRG Energy.
- Con Edison.
- Georgia Power.
- FirstEnergy Corp.
- NextEra Energy.
Utility companies are organizations that provide electricity, gas, sewage, water, and other basic necessities to a population. They are for-profit companies but are part of the public sector and are typically heavily regulated by public authorities.
Some of the largest utility companies in the world include:
- Électricité de France SA (EDF).
- Enel SpA.
- E.ON.
- Engie.
Electricity companies are responsible for providing electricity to customers in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective manner. They purchase and resell electricity from different sources, including wind, solar, hydro, gas, and nuclear. They also work with local and state agencies to ensure efficient energy use and invest in research and development to provide customers with improved services.
