The energy companies are big in the utility industry in the country. There many major players and many mergers have taken place, strengthening their presence in the market. Over the years the growth rate has remained at 1% and demand for electricity has remained low according to the US Energy Information Administration. The gradual decline is due to the more demand for renewable sources and natural gas.

Duke Energy with Progress Energy and Exelon with Constellation have emerged as the major players and the best energy companies in the industry.

Their presence can be seen in the power distribution in the country. The coal consumption to generate power has declined in the country, they are using natural gas and renewable sources like wind and solar. Listed below are the best energy companies in the country.

Duke Energy

One of the best energy companies, Duke Energy’s assets are valued at $114.8 billion approximately. It is engaged in generating electricity and gas; its transmission and distribution. It was founded in April 2006 in North Carolina. The company had generated 57.5GW at the end of 2013. Its generating capacity is around 50,200MW from its power plants. In 2017, it planned to modernize North Carolina’s electric system. Over 1.5 million customers are there for natural gas consumption.

Exelon

Exelon is a utility service company which operates through subsidiaries like Exelon Generation, Commonwealth, and PECO Energy. They have around $80 billion in assets, 7.4 million customers and was founded in 1999, in Chicago its total capacity is more than 34.6GW and is concentrated in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Texas regions. Exelon’s generating capacity is mostly nuclear. It is the largest owner and operator of nuclear plants in the country. It delivers electricity and natural gas to 10 million customers. It has a generating capacity of 35,500MW. Exelon produces power from gas, nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

Southern Company

Southern Company is an electricity producer and a distributor. It is one of the best energy companies and operates through subsidiaries like Georgia Power, Alabama Power, Mississippi and, Gulf Power. Its net assets are worth $64.5bn approximately. Founded in 1945 in Atlanta it generates over 42% of electricity by natural gas, coal, hydropower and nuclear makes up for 38%, 4%, and 16% respectively. It has been generating a capacity of around 46,000MW and 1,500 billion cubic feet of natural gas consumption. It also takes care of over 200,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines and also around 80,000 miles of natural gas pipeline.

NextEra Energy

NextEra Energy generates power, transmits and distributes energy in the USA and Canada through its subsidiaries Florida Power and Light and NextEra Energy Resources. It is worth $69.3billion approximately. Founded in 1984 in Florida it owns three largest power stations in the country. It has a generating capacity of 45,900MW. It is regarded as the third-largest electricity producing company. It serves nearly 10 million people across the country. It is going to construct new solar power plants in eight locations by 2018.

Dominion Resources

Dominion Resources generates electricity and natural gas. It is worth $50.1billion approximately. Founded in 1983 in Virginia it is one of the largest producer and transporter of energy. It produces nearly 26,400MW of electricity; it takes care of transmitting natural gas through 66,000 miles of pipeline which also includes storage, distribution and gathering gas. They have laid down over 64,200 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines.

American Electric Power

Founded in Ohio it is one of the largest electricity generators in the country. It serves 11 states and nearly 5.4 million customers. Its assets are over $63.5 billion approximately. It produces over 26,000 MW of energy and owns around 40,000 miles of transmission lines.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Founded in 1905in San Francisco, it is the largest combined producer of natural gas and electric energy in the USA. It is a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. It supplies electricity and natural gas to over 16 million people. It handles over 106,681 miles of electric lines and 18,466 miles of transmission lines.

PPL

PPL is an investor-owned company which produces 8,000MW of power. It serves 10 million customers across the US and UK. It handles over 218,000 miles of electric lines, and delivers around 144 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.

There are over 3300 power companies in the country and over 200 provide electricity to majority users. The companies provide power, natural gas, and water. The USA power grid connects over 2.5million miles of lines and over 450,000 transmission lines. The users are divided into residents, commercial and industrial. The bulk buyers are residential.

Duke Energy has become the largest company after the merger and is ranked as the second in the list of electric utility suppliers. The generation, transmission, and distribution are deregulated. The tariff and power rates vary throughout the country. How much the power is regulated is seen in the rates paid by the consumers.

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The residential users have bought over 1.41 petawatt hours worth of power in 2017.