Top companies




Utility companies provide energy, one of the most basic needs of households and industrial enterprises. The costs to build and maintain the infrastructure necessary to produce and distribute energy is one of the greatest challenges facing emerging countries. Nine of the top 10 largest utility companies based on market value are based in either the U.S. or Europe.

1. Duke Energy
By merging with Progress Energy in 2012, Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) became the largest electric utility in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, its regulated utilities business unit serves 7.3 million retail electric customers in six states in the Southeast and Midwest regions, boasting approximately 57,500 MW of electric generating capacity. Almost all of its electricity generation comes from coal, natural gas and oil. As of 2015, it has 28,000 employees, $24 billion in operating revenue, a $57.5 billion market capitalization, $25 billion in sales and $118.5 billion in total assets.
Duke Energy operates 32,000 miles of total transmission lines, 263,000 miles of total distribution lines, 7,200 miles of natural gas mains and 6,200 miles of natural gas service lines. Duke's international holdings include power generation in Latin America and a 25% interest in Saudi Arabia's National Methanol Company.

2. Engie
Previously known as GDF Suez, Engie SA is a multinational utility company headquartered in France. It has operations in electricity generation and distribution, natural gas and renewable energy. The name change reflects the company’s departure from the state-owned nationalized gas monopoly. As of 2015, the company has 236,000 employees, $99 billion in sales and a $49.5 billion market capitalization.

3. National Grid
Headquartered in London, National Grid PLC (NYSE: NGG) is a multinational electricity and gas utility company with principal activities in the United Kingdom and Northeastern United States. The company owns and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales. As the owner and operator of the only gas transmission infrastructure in the United Kingdom, all of the nation's natural gas passes through National Grid's national transmission system. As of 2015, National Grid has 24,000 employees, $24 billion in sales and a $49 billion market capitalization.

4. NextEra
Based in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NEE) is an investment company with interests in power generation, transmission and distribution in the United States and Canada. As of 2015, NextEra operates with a 44,900 MW generating capacity, has 13,800 employees and made $18 billion in sales. Through its two major subsidiaries, Florida Power & Light and NextEra Energy Resources, the company has a $46.9 billion market capitalization and owns three of the 10 largest power stations in the United States.

5. EDF
French state-owned Électricité de France SA (EDF) provides power generation, transmission, distribution, and energy supply and trading. It is involved in every aspect of the electricity industry. Group companies operate in many countries around the world and employ 160,000 people. The company is consolidating its operations in France and Europe and increasing its presence in key emerging countries, such as Brazil, China and Russia. EDF owns and operates three of the world's top 10 nuclear power plants by capacity and is the largest producer of low-carbon electricity in the United Kingdom. EDF has $97 billion in sales and a $46.3 billion market capitalization, as of 2015.

6. Enel
Based in Rome, Italy, Enel is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the world’s power and gas markets, with a particular focus on Europe and Latin America. With over 61 million users worldwide, it has the largest customer base among European companies. Enel Group operates in over 30 countries across four continents, producing energy through a 89,000 MW capacity and distributing electricity and gas through a network covering over one million miles.
Enel operates in hydroelectric, thermoelectric, nuclear, geothermal, wind, solar PV and other renewable sources. More than 47% of the electricity it produced in 2014 was free of carbon dioxide emissions, making it one of the world's major producers of clean energy. It has 68,000 employees, $97 billion in sales and a $44.6 billion market capitalization, as of 2015.

7. Dominion Resources
Based in Richmond, Virginia, Dominion Resources Inc. (NYSE) is one of the largest producers and transporters of energy in the United States. It features a 24,400 MW generating capacity, 12,200 miles of natural gas pipeline and 6,490 miles of electric transmission lines. The company operates one of the United States' largest natural gas storage systems with 928 billion cubic feet of storage capacity, serving utility and retail energy customers in 14 states. Dominion has 14,400 employees, $13 billion in sales and a $42.8 billion market capitalization, as of 2015.

8. Iberdrola
Iberdrola SA is a Spanish public multinational electric utility company based in Bilbao. Subsidiaries include Scottish Power, Iberdrola USA and Elektro (Brazil). It has a 28,000 employee workforce over four continents, serving around 32 million customers, as of 2015. The company has $40 billion in sales and a $42.3 billion market capitalization.

9. Southern Company
The Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is an electricity producer and distributor based in Atlanta, Georgia, that constructs, acquires, owns and manages assets and sells electricity in the wholesale market. It operates through subsidiaries including Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power. It serves approximately 4.4 million customers and has a 46,000 MW generating capacity. The company has 26,000 employees, $18.5 billion in sales and a $40.9 billion market capitalization, as of 2015.

10. Hanergy
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Hanergy is a privately held multinational company that is active in solar, wind and hydropower generation. While it claims to be the world's largest thin-film solar power company, the company laid off 2,000 employees, or 37% of its workforce, in 2015. Total sales for the Hanergy Thin Film segment were $273 million in 2015, which is a 34% decline from $414 million in 2014. It has $1.2 billion in total sales and a $38.1 billion market capitalization, as of 2015.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gas and Electricity Markets Authority

Image
The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), supporting the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA), is the government regulator for the electricity and downstream natural gas markets in Great Britain. It was formed by the merger of the Office of Electricity Regulation (OFFER) and Office of Gas Supply (Ofgas). Powers and duties The Authority's powers and duties are largely provided for in statute (such as the Gas Act 1986, the Electricity Act 1989, the Utilities Act 2000, the Competition Act 1998, the Enterprise Act 2002 and the Energy Act 2004, the Energy Act 2008 and the Energy Act 2010 as well as arising from directly effective European Community legislation. Duties and functions concerning gas are set out in the Gas Act and those relating to electricity are set out in the Electricity Act. Its primary duty is to protect the interests of consumers, where possible by promoting competition. The Authority‘s main objective is to protect existing and future cons...
Keep reading

Price comparision

Energy companies are having to pay more and more for the gas they sell on to us, because trade gas prices are rising. It's only a matter of time before they pass these rising costs on to us, and our energy bills get more expensive, and this has already started with npower increasing their prices recently, as seen here. For most households, electricity is cheapest on a fixed rate deal. If you're on a fixed tariff, find out when it's due to end and make sure you move to another fixed deal. This way, you'll continue to get cheaper electricity than if you were to move onto your existing supplier's standard variable rate. Now is the perfect time to switch to a better deal, so you don't get caught out. Some households could save as much as £568 a year*, just by switching to a better energy deal. Savings of this magnitude are available straight away to customers who switch to one of the cheaper fixed rate tariffs on the market. The CMA says seven out of 10 ...
Keep reading

Gas/ electricity

Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE) is the primary subsidiary of MGE Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGEE). As a regulated utility, it primarily serves the Madison, Wisconsin metropolitan area with electricity, gas and green energy options. Founding The company's roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years to its predecessor company, the Madison Gas Light and Coke Co., which was founded in 1855. The Madison Electric Light and Power Co. began delivering electric service in 1888. At the time, Madison had a population of 13,000. In 1892, the Four Lakes Light and Power Co. bought Madison Electric Light and Power Co. and operated as Madison's electricity provider for the next four years. In 1896, the Four Lakes Light and Power Company and the Madison City Gas Light and Coke Co. combined and incorporated to become Madison Gas and Electric Co. The Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse was built in 1902. In 1915, it was remodeled at a cost of $150,000. The b...
Keep reading