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Learn About the Electric Utility That Serves You

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What’s the difference between a utility and a provider?

In every state, utility companies deliver electricity to homes and businesses. Your utility is predetermined based on your location. Some states have deregulated or partially deregulated energy markets, meaning consumers can purchase their energy from their utility company or an energy provider. Energy providers are independent companies that sell electricity plans to consumers, and are typically responsible for managing your electric account and billing.

Deregulation varies by state. In Texas, for example, consumers can only purchase electricity from an energy provider and they don’t have the option to buy from their utility. In other deregulated states, like Maryland for instance, residents can purchase electricity from either their utility or a separate provider.

This guide lists utility companies by states with energy deregulation. Simply navigate to your state to learn more about the utility company that serves you.

How to compare your energy options

Knowing which company to buy electricity or natural gas from can be challenging. If you live in a deregulated state, it’s helpful to compare your options on an independent marketplace like Choose Energy. Our free marketplace lets you browse available plans in your area to find the best fit and sign up — all in one place. Enter your ZIP code to explore your options.

California utilities

Pacific Gas & Electric

PG&E is headquartered in San Francisco and delivers electricity and natural gas to roughly 16 million customers across northern and central California. Only natural gas is deregulated in California, so residents can only choose their natural gas provider.

San Diego Gas & Electric

San Diego Gas & Electric is the primary natural gas utility for San Diego and southern Orange County. Founded in 1818, it is now a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy company. SDG&E delivers natural gas and electricity to over 3.6 million customers, and its service area spans 4,100 square miles.

Southern California Gas

SoCalGas is the primary natural gas utility for southern California. It has operated for more than 140 years. A subsidiary of Sempra Energy, SoCalGas serves over 20 million natural gas customers in more than 500 communities. Its 20,000 square mile service area ranges from the Mexican border to Visalia in the San Joaquin Valley.

Connecticut utilities

Eversource Energy

Eversource is the largest utility service in greater New England, and serves more than 1.2 million electric customers and 222,000 natural gas customers throughout Connecticut. Eversource was formerly known as Connecticut Light and Power.

United Illuminating

The United Illuminating Company is a regional electric utility established in 1899 in New Haven, Connecticut. It delivers energy to over 325,000 residential, commercial, and industrial consumers around Bridgeport and New Haven. The company is a subsidiary of Avangrid.

Delaware utilities

Delaware Electric Cooperative

The Delaware Electric Cooperative has served rural communities in Kent and Sussex counties since 1936.

Delmarva Power

Delmarva Power is a part of Exelon Corporation, which serves roughly 10 million customers. Delmarva provides electricity and natural gas to customers in Delaware and Maryland.

Georgia utilities

Atlanta Gas Light

Atlanta Gas Light is a subsidiary of AGL Resources, which delivers gas to over 4.5 million customers. Founded in 1856, Atlanta Gas Light Company is now the largest natural gas distributor in the southeastern United States. It provides service to over 1.6 million residential and commercial customers in Georgia. Both Atlanta Gas Light and AGL Resources are based in Atlanta.

Illinois utilities

Commonwealth Edison Company

Commonwealth Edison Company, or ComEd, is a subsidiary of Exelon Corp. The company provides utility services to 3.8 million customers in Illinois.

Ameren

Based in Collinsville, Illinois, Ameren Illinois is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation. It delivers energy to over 1.2 million electric and 816,000 natural gas customers in central and southern Illinois. It also maintains more than 45,000 miles of electrical lines and 18,000 natural gas pipelines.

North Shore Gas

Founded in 1856, North Shore Gas is a regulated gas utility serving the northern Chicago suburbs. It delivers natural gas to 159,000 customers in Cook and Lake counties. Based in Chicago, Northshore Gas is a subsidiary of People’s Gas.

Nicor Gas

Founded in 1954, Nicor Gas is northern Illinois’s largest natural gas utility. Its service territory includes the northern third of the state. It operates, maintains, and manages over 34,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. It is a subsidiary of AGL Resources.

Maine utilities

Central Maine Power

Central Maine Power Company, founded in 1899, serves over 600,000 central and southern Maine customers. Its service area covers 11,000 square miles, and maintains and repairs over 25,000 miles of electric wires.

Versant Power

Previously Emera Maine, Versant Power serves nearly 160,000 customers in Maine. Its service areas include both the Bangor Hydro and Maine Public districts.

Maryland utilities

Baltimore Gas & Electric

BG&E is the oldest gas utility in the nation and the largest utility in Maryland. it has a service area of over 2,300 square miles and delivers electricity to 1.25 million residential and small business customers. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon and maintains over 25,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines.

Delmarva Power & Light

Delmarva Power, founded in 1909, is a subsidiary of Exelon and delivers electricity to 515,000 customers in Maryland and Delaware, and natural gas to over 129,000 customers.

PEPCO

PEPCO has served energy customers in greater Washington, D.C., since 1896. The utility company promotes global sustainability efforts through its WaterShed Sustainability Center.

Potomac Edison

Potomac Edison, operating under FirstEnergy, provides energy services to thousands of homes and businesses across the state. The company hosts a range of resources for customers looking to save energy and money.

Washington Gas Light

Washington Gas Light Company is the primary natural gas utility for the District of Columbia. It delivers natural gas to over a million homes and businesses in and around Washington, D.C. It is a subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc.

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