What's the difference between a utility and a provider?
In every state, utilities deliver electricity to homes and businesses. In regulated states, utilities also generate (or buy) that electricity. Public utility commissions approve rates and other charges for residential and business energy users in regulated states.
In most deregulated states, customers have the power to choose between buying electricity from a utility or a retail electric provider. In either case, the utility company delivers power to the home or business. The utility also maintains electricity lines and other infrastructure. That’s the company you call for an outage or other problem.
While you can change your supplier in deregulated states, you can’t change your utility. No matter who supplies your energy, your utility will still be responsible for delivering it to you and maintaining and repairing your equipment.
Following are utilities available in each state. Click on the utility name for more information:
California Utilities
San Diego Gas & Electric is the primary natural gas utility for San Diego and southern Orange County. Founded in 1818, it now is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy company. SDG&E delivers natural gas and electricity to over 3.6 million customers. Its service area spans 4,100 square miles.
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 serves more than 1.2 million electric customers and 222,000 natural gas customers throughout the state. It is the largest utility service in greater New England. Eversource was formerly known as Connecticut Light and Power.
The United Illuminating Company is a regional electric utility. It is based in New Haven, CT, and was established in 1899. It delivers energy to over 325,000 residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. Its service area encompasses 17 communities around Bridgeport and New Haven. It is a subsidiary of Avangrid.
Georgia utilities
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, or ComEd, provides utility services to 3.8 million customers in Illinois. It is a subsidiary of energy giant Exelon Corp.
Based in Collinsville, IL, Ameren Illinois is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation. Ameren Illinois 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 of natural gas pipelines.
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, Illinois, Northshore Gas is a subsidiary of People’s Gas. It was founded in 1856.
Founded in 1954, Nicor Gas is the largest natural gas utility in northern Illinois. 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 and was founded in 1954.
Maine utilities
Central Maine Power Company serves over 600,000 customers in central and southern Maine. Its service area covers 11,000 square miles. Central Maine Power maintains and repairs over 25,000 miles of electric wires. It was founded in 1899.
Previously Emera Maine, Versant Power serves nearly 160,000 customers in Maine. Its service areas include the both the Bangor Hydro and Maine Public districts.
Maryland utilities
Baltimore Gas & Electric is both 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 also maintains over 25,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines. It is a subsidiary of Exelon.
Delmarva Power delivers electricity to 515,000 customers in Maryland and Delaware. It also transmits natural gas to over 129,000 customers. It was founded in 1909 and is a subsidiary of Exelon.
PEPCO has been serving energy customers in greater Washington, D.C., since 1896. The utility company promotes global sustainability efforts through its WaterShed Sustainability Center.
Potomac Edison provides energy services to thousands of homes and businesses across the state. Potomac Edison hosts a range of resources for customers looking to save energy and money. It is part of FirstEnergy.
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.
Massachusetts utilities
Unitil (Fitchburg Gas & Electric)
Unitil is an electric and natural gas utility that serves customers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It serves over 104,300 electric customers and 79,900 natural gas customers. Its service area includes Fitchburg, MA, Concord, NH, and the cities of Portland and Lewiston in Maine.
Eversource delivers energy to 207,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It has a service area of 1,490 square miles, making it one of the largest utilities in New England. It operates over 4,200 miles of electric distribution and power lines. The company was once known as Western Massachusetts Electric.
National Grid is the largest natural gas distributor in the northeastern United States. It delivers natural gas to 3.6 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It also transmits electricity to 3.4 million customers in the same states. The company is based in Great Britain.
Michigan utilities
DTE Energy (Michigan Consolidated)
DTE delivers electricity to over 2.1 million customers in southeast Michigan. It transmits natural gas to roughly 1.2 million customers in northern and central Michigan. It is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.
Michigan Gas Utilities delivers energy to roughly 170,000 customers in southwest Michigan. Its service area includes Grand Haven, Otsego, Benton Harbor, Coldwater and Monroe. Formerly known as Aquila Energy, Michigan Gas Utilities is a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group.
SEMCO Energy Gas Company is a regulated public utility that serves about 290,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan. Its service territory covers parts of the Upper and Lower peninsulas.
New Jersey utilities
Atlantic City Electric has a service area of more than 2,700 square miles in southern New Jersey. It delivers electricity to over 545,000 customers. Counties served include Camden, Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, and others. It is a subsidiary of PEPCO Holdings.
Jersey Central Power & Light serves 6 million customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio. In New Jersey, JCP&L serves customers in Burlington, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy, one of the largest energy delivery companies in the United States.
Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) is the largest utility in New Jersey. PSE&G provides electric and natural gas services to 5.1 million customers. It began operations in 1903.
Rockland Electric delivers energy to 61,109 residential electric customers in northern New Jersey. Its service area includes parts of Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties. Rockland is a subsidiary of Orange & Rockland.
Elizabethtown Gas delivers natural gas to over 277,000 customers in southern New Jersey. Its service area includes the counties of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris, and Mercer. In 2004, Elizabethtown Gas became a subsidiary of AGL Resources.
South Jersey Gas delivers energy to over 343,560 customers in southern New Jersey. A subsidiary of South Jersey Industries, the utility’s 2,500-square-mile service area covers roughly a third of the state’s geographic area. The service area includes Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. It was founded in 1910.
New York utilities
Central Hudson Gas & Electric serves 300,000 electric customers in New York’s Mid-Hudson River Valley. Its service area extends from the New York City suburbs in the south to Albany in the north and includes Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Beacon, and Kingston.
The Consolidated Edison Co. (commonly referred to as ConEd) has become one of the world’s largest energy delivery companies since being founded in 1823. ConEd serves 10 million customers in various parts of New York.
National Grid (Keyspan New York)
Keyspan New York is a subsidiary of National Grid, which is the largest natural gas distributor in the northeast. It provides service to 3.6 million natural gas customers and 3.4 million electricity customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
National Grid (Keyspan Long Island)
Keyspan Long Island is a subsidiary of National Grid. It delivers natural gas to 3.6 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It sends electricity to roughly 3.4 million customers in the same states.
National Grid (Niagara Mohawk)
Orange & Rockland
Rochester Gas & Electric is the utility for electricity and natural gas customers in and around Rochester, New York. RG&E delivers service to nearly 700,000 customers in nine counties. It is a subsidiary of AVANGRID.
Ohio utilities
Duke Energy Ohio is a subsidiary of Duke Energy, America’s largest electric power holding company. Duke Energy Ohio delivers electricity to 840,000 homes and businesses in southeastern Ohio. Its 3,000 square mile service area includes Cincinnati.
Ohio Edison is a subsidiary of First Energy. It delivers electricity to over a million customers in central and northeastern Ohio. Its service area includes Ashland, Champaign, Clark, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Knox, Miami, Union, and Wayne counties. It operates over 30,000 miles of electric power lines.
A subsidiary of AEP Ohio, Ohio Power transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 1.5 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Founded in 1907, the company is headquartered in Columbus. The utility manages and operates over 31,000 miles of electrical wire, ensuring reliable delivery to your doorstep.
Toledo Edison delivers electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in northwestern Ohio. It is a subsidiary of First Energy.
Dominion East Ohio is a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, one of the largest distributors of energy in the United States, serving millions of customers across 12 states.
Vectren delivers natural gas to over a million residential and commercial customers in Ohio and Indiana. In Ohio, Vectren delivers to 314,000 customers located in the western and central part of the state. Its service area includes the city of Dayton, Troy, Bellefontaine, Centerville, and Fairborn. The company is based in Evansville, IN.
Pennsylvania utilities
Duquesne Light Company is the primary electric utility for the Pittsburgh area. It delivers electricity to over 500,000 residential and business customers in its 817 square mile service area. It operates over 45,000 miles of overhead power lines. The company was founded in the late 1870s by famed inventor George Westinghouse.
Metropolitan Edison is an Akron-based electric utility company that operates in central and eastern Pennsylvania. It delivers electricity to over 560,000 customers. Its 3,300 square mile service area includes parts of Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, and York counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy.
National Fuel is a natural gas utility that serves western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, its service area includes Sharon and Erie. It delivers energy to 740,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and is headquartered in Williamsville, NY.
The Philadelphia Electric Company, or PECO, is the largest combination natural gas and electricity utility. It provides service to 1.6 million electric customers and 485,000 natural gas customers. Its 2,100-square-mile service area includes Philadelphia, Coatesville, Pottstown, Norristown, and Willow Grove.
Peoples Gas (formerly Equitable Gas)
In 2013, Equitable Gas was purchased by Peoples Gas company. Peoples serves over 700,000 natural gas customers in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Its service area in Pennsylvania includes Pittsburgh, Altoona, Clarion, Johnstown, and Uniontown.
PPL Electric Utilities serves nearly 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, making it one of the largest utilities in the state. As an industry leader for almost 30 years, PPL remains dedicated to improving customer communication and power delivery.
UGI Central Penn Gas is a natural gas and electric utility. It delivers energy to over 650,000 customers in hundreds of communities across the state. The company was founded in 1944 and formerly known as PPL Gas Utilities. Its service area includes parts of Monroe, Carbon, Lancaster, Clarion, Venango, McKean, Clearfield, Potter, Schuylkill, Bradford, and Chester. The company is based in Allentown, PA, and is a subsidiary of UGI Utilities, Inc.
UGI Penn Natural gas is the largest natural gas distribution company in northeast and central Pennsylvania. It delivers energy to roughly 158,000 customers, including the cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport. The utility was founded in 1854.
West Penn Power is a natural gas and electric utility based in Greensburg, PA. It delivers energy to over 724,000 electric customers in 24 Pennsylvania counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.
Texas utilities
AEP Texas Central is an electric utility operating in southern and central Texas. It delivers energy to over 800,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. AEP Texas Central it is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, one of the largest electrical utilities in the United States.
AEP Texas North is an electric utility that provides service to over 49 counties and 176 cities in central, northern, and western Texas. It delivers energy to over 184,000 residential, commercial, and business customers and operates over 18,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines. It was formerly known as West Texas Utility.
CenterPoint Energy is based in Houston, where it is the primary electrical utility. It delivers electricity to 2 million Houston residents and businesses. CenterPoint has won awards for its service and environmental stewardship.
Oncor Electric Delivery spans 402 cities and 91 counties in Texas, making it one of the largest electric utilities in the state. The company employs advanced energy technologies to improve and maintain its 3.4 million meters and 122,000 miles of power lines.
Texas New Mexico Power provides service to roughly 236,000 customers in more than 20 communities throughout the state. Its service area includes the cities of Kermit, Sanderson, Gatesville, Whitney, Farmersville, Angleton, and Texas City. The utility manages over 9,000 miles of electric power lines and distribution wires. TNMP is based in Lewisville, TX.
So, utility or provider?
In regulated states, there is no question. You’ll always get electricity or natural gas from a utility. You’ll be assigned a utility according to where you live, and there is a real option to break away.
In most states that have deregulation, the utility delivers electricity and/or natural gas to your home or business. But you may exercise the power to choose whether you buy those products from a utility or from a supplier.
The key is to find the utility’s price to compare – the cost of basic electricity supply. It should be listed on your monthly bill separately from the cost to deliver energy to your home. Once you know the price to compare, it’s easy to use Choose Energy’s marketplace to see if you can beat that price.
In Texas, you must purchase an electricity plan from a retail electric provider. Again, Choose Energy’s marketplace can help with that, allowing you to see the plans in your area. Sort by rate, term, renewable content, and more to make your choice.
Ready to see the energy plans available in your area? Just enter your ZIP on this page and start shopping.
Updated: 11/20/2020
What's the difference between a utility and a provider?
In every state, utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses. In regulated states, utilities also generate (or buy) that electricity or natural gas. Public utility commissions approve rates and other charges for residential and business energy users in regulated states.
In most deregulated states, customers have the power to choose between buying electricity or natural gas from a utility or a retail electric provider. In either case, the utility company delivers power to the home or business. The utility also maintains electricity and natural gas lines and other infrastructure. That’s the company you call for an outage or other problem.
While you can change your supplier in deregulated states, you can’t change your utility.
Following are utilities available in deregulated states. Click on the utility name for more information:
California utilities
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 now is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy company. SDG&E delivers natural gas and electricity to over 3.6 million customers. 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 serves more than 1.2 million electric customers and 222,000 natural gas customers throughout the state. It is the largest utility service in greater New England. Eversource was formerly known as Connecticut Light and Power.
United Illuminating
The United Illuminating Company is a regional electric utility. It is based in New Haven, CT, and was established in 1899. It delivers energy to over 325,000 residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. Its service area encompasses 17 communities around Bridgeport and New Haven. It is a subsidiary of Avangrid.
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, provides utility services to 3.8 million customers in Illinois. It is a subsidiary of energy giant Exelon Corp.
Ameren
Based in Collinsville, IL, Ameren Illinois is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation. Ameren Illinois 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 of natural gas pipelines.
North Shore Gas
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, Illinois, Northshore Gas is a subsidiary of People’s Gas. It was founded in 1856.
Nicor Gas
Founded in 1954, Nicor Gas is the largest natural gas utility in northern Illinois. 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 and was founded in 1954.
Maine utilities
Central Maine Power
Central Maine Power Company serves over 600,000 customers in central and southern Maine. Its service area covers 11,000 square miles. Central Maine Power maintains and repairs over 25,000 miles of electric wires. It was founded in 1899.
Versant Power
Previously Emera Maine, Versant Power serves nearly 160,000 customers in Maine. Its service areas include the both the Bangor Hydro and Maine Public districts.
Maryland utilities
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Baltimore Gas & Electric is both 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 also maintains over 25,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines. It is a subsidiary of Exelon.
Delmarva Power & Light
Delmarva Power delivers electricity to 515,000 customers in Maryland and Delaware. It also transmits natural gas to over 129,000 customers. It was founded in 1909 and is a subsidiary of Exelon.
PEPCO
PEPCO has been serving 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 provides energy services to thousands of homes and businesses across the state. Potomac Edison hosts a range of resources for customers looking to save energy and money. It is part of FirstEnergy.
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.
Massachusetts utilities
Unitil (Fitchburg Gas & Electric)
Unitil is an electric and natural gas utility that serves customers in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It serves over 104,300 electric customers and 79,900 natural gas customers. Its service area includes Fitchburg, MA, Concord, NH, and the cities of Portland and Lewiston in Maine.
Eversource
Eversource delivers energy to 207,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. It has a service area of 1,490 square miles, making it one of the largest utilities in New England. It operates over 4,200 miles of electric distribution and power lines. The company was once known as Western Massachusetts Electric.
National Grid
National Grid is the largest natural gas distributor in the northeastern United States. It delivers natural gas to 3.6 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It also transmits electricity to 3.4 million customers in the same states. The company is based in Great Britain.
Michigan utilities
DTE Energy (Michigan Consolidated)
DTE delivers electricity to over 2.1 million customers in southeast Michigan. It transmits natural gas to roughly 1.2 million customers in northern and central Michigan. It is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.
Michigan Gas Utilities
Michigan Gas Utilities delivers energy to roughly 170,000 customers in southwest Michigan. Its service area includes Grand Haven, Otsego, Benton Harbor, Coldwater and Monroe. Formerly known as Aquila Energy, Michigan Gas Utilities is a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group.
SEMCO Energy
SEMCO Energy Gas Company is a regulated public utility that serves about 290,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout Michigan. Its service territory covers parts of the Upper and Lower peninsulas.
New Jersey utilities
Atlantic City Electric
Atlantic City Electric has a service area of more than 2,700 square miles in southern New Jersey. It delivers electricity to over 545,000 customers. Counties served include Camden, Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, and others. It is a subsidiary of PEPCO Holdings.
Jersey Central Power & Light
Jersey Central Power & Light serves 6 million customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio. In New Jersey, JCP&L serves customers in Burlington, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy, one of the largest energy delivery companies in the United States,
Public Service Electric & Gas
Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) is the largest utility in New Jersey. PSE&G provides electric and natural gas services to 5.1 million customers. It began operations in 1903.
Rockland Electric
Rockland Electric delivers energy to 61,109 residential electric customers in northern New Jersey. Its service area includes parts of Passaic, Bergen, and Essex counties. Rockland is a subsidiary of Orange & Rockland.
Elizabethtown Gas
Elizabethtown Gas delivers natural gas to over 277,000 customers in southern New Jersey. Its service area includes the counties of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris, and Mercer. In 2004, Elizabethtown Gas became a subsidiary of AGL Resources.
South Jersey Gas
South Jersey Gas delivers energy to over 343,560 customers in southern New Jersey. A subsidiary of South Jersey Industries, the utility’s 2,500-square-mile service area covers roughly a third of the state’s geographic area. The service area includes Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties. It was founded in 1910.
New York utilities
Central Hudson Gas & Electric
Central Hudson Gas & Electric serves 300,000 electric customers in New York’s Mid-Hudson River Valley. Its service area extends from the New York City suburbs in the south to Albany in the north and includes Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Beacon, and Kingston.
Consolidated Edison Co.
The Consolidated Edison Co. (commonly referred to as ConEd) has become one of the world’s largest energy delivery companies since being founded in 1823. ConEd serves 10 million customers in various parts of New York.
National Grid Keyspan
Keyspan New York is a subsidiary of National Grid. It provides service to 3.6 million natural gas customers and 3.4 million electricity customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
National Grid Niagara Mohawk
Orange & Rockland
Rochester Gas & Electric
Rochester Gas & Electric is the utility for electricity and natural gas customers in and around Rochester, New York. RG&E delivers service to nearly 700,000 customers in nine counties. It is a subsidiary of AVANGRID.
Ohio utilities
Duke Energy Ohio
Duke Energy Ohio is a subsidiary of Duke Energy, America’s largest electric power holding company. Duke Energy Ohio delivers electricity to 840,000 homes and businesses in southeastern Ohio. Its 3,000 square mile service area includes Cincinnati.
Ohio Edison
Ohio Edison is a subsidiary of First Energy. It delivers electricity to over a million customers in central and northeastern Ohio. Its service area includes Ashland, Champaign, Clark, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Knox, Miami, Union, and Wayne counties. It operates over 30,000 miles of electric power lines.
AEP Ohio (Ohio Power Company)
A subsidiary of AEP Ohio, Ohio Power transmits and distributes electricity to nearly 1.5 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Founded in 1907, the company is headquartered in Columbus. The utility manages and operates over 31,000 miles of electrical wire, ensuring reliable delivery to your doorstep.
Toledo Edison
Toledo Edison delivers electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in northwestern Ohio. It is a subsidiary of First Energy.
Dominion East
Dominion East Ohio is a subsidiary of Dominion Resources, one of the largest distributors of energy in the United States, serving millions of customers across 12 states.
Vectren Energy Delivery
Vectren delivers natural gas to over a million residential and commercial customers in Ohio and Indiana. In Ohio, Vectren delivers to 314,000 customers located in the western and central part of the state. Its service area includes the city of Dayton, Troy, Bellefontaine, Centerville, and Fairborn. The company is based in Evansville, IN.
Pennsylvania utilities
Duquesne Light
Duquesne Light Company is the primary electric utility for the Pittsburgh area. It delivers electricity to over 500,000 residential and business customers in its 817 square mile service area. It operates over 45,000 miles of overhead power lines. The company was founded in the late 1870s by famed inventor George Westinghouse.
Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed)
Metropolitan Edison is an Akron-based electric utility company that operates in central and eastern Pennsylvania. It delivers electricity to over 560,000 customers. Its 3,300 square mile service area includes parts of Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lebanon, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, and York counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy.
National Fuel Gas (PA)
National Fuel is a natural gas utility that serves western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, its service area includes Sharon and Erie. It delivers energy to 740,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and is headquartered in Williamsville, NY.
PECO
The Philadelphia Electric Company, or PECO, is the largest combination natural gas and electricity utility. It provides service to 1.6 million electric customers and 485,000 natural gas customers. Its 2,100-square-mile service area includes Philadelphia, Coatesville, Pottstown, Norristown, and Willow Grove.
Peoples Gas (formerly Equitable Gas)
In 2013, Equitable Gas was purchased by Peoples Gas company. Peoples serves over 700,000 natural gas customers in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Its service area in Pennsylvania includes Pittsburgh, Altoona, Clarion, Johnstown, and Uniontown.
PPL Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities serves nearly 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, making it one of the largest utilities in the state. As an industry leader for almost 30 years, PPL remains dedicated to improving customer communication and power delivery.
UGI Central Penn Gas
UGI Central Penn Gas is a natural gas and electric utility. It delivers energy to over 650,000 customers in hundreds of communities across the state. The company was founded in 1944 and formerly known as PPL Gas Utilities. Its service area includes parts of Monroe, Carbon, Lancaster, Clarion, Venango, McKean, Clearfield, Potter, Schuylkill, Bradford, and Chester. The company is based in Allentown, PA, and is a subsidiary of UGI Utilities, Inc.
UGI Penn Natural Gas
UGI Penn Natural gas is the largest natural gas distribution company in northeast and central Pennsylvania. It delivers energy to roughly 158,000 customers, including the cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport. The utility was founded in 1854.
West Penn Power
West Penn Power is a natural gas and electric utility based in Greensburg, PA. It delivers energy to over 724,000 electric customers in 24 Pennsylvania counties. It is a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.
Texas utilities
AEP Texas Central
AEP Texas Central is an electric utility operating in southern and central Texas. It delivers energy to over 800,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. AEP Texas Central it is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Company, one of the largest electrical utilities in the United States.
AEP Texas North
AEP Texas North is an electric utility that provides service to over 49 counties and 176 cities in central, northern, and western Texas. It delivers energy to over 184,000 residential, commercial, and business customers and operates over 18,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines. It was formerly known as West Texas Utility.
CenterPoint Energy
CenterPoint Energy is based in Houston, where it is the primary electrical utility. It delivers electricity to 2 million Houston residents and businesses. CenterPoint has won awards for its service and environmental stewardship.
Oncor Electric Delivery
Oncor Electric Delivery spans 402 cities and 91 counties in Texas, making it one of the largest electric utilities in the state. The company employs advanced energy technologies to improve and maintain its 3.4 million meters and 122,000 miles of power lines.
Texas-New Mexico Power
Texas New Mexico Power provides service to roughly 236,000 customers in more than 20 communities throughout the state. Its service area includes the cities of Kermit, Sanderson, Gatesville, Whitney, Farmersville, Angleton, and Texas City. The utility manages over 9,000 miles of electric power lines and distribution wires. TNMP is based in Lewisville, TX.
So, utility or provider?
In regulated states, there is no question. You’ll always get electricity or natural gas from a utility. You’ll be assigned a utility according to where you live, and there is a real option to break away.
In most states that have deregulation, the utility delivers electricity and/or natural gas to your home or business. But you may exercise the power to choose whether you buy those products from a utility or from a supplier.
The key is to find the utility’s price to compare – the cost of basic electricity or natural gas supply. It should be listed on your monthly bill separately from the cost to deliver energy to your home. Once you know the price to compare, it’s easy to use Choose Energy’s marketplace to see if you can beat that price.
In Texas, you must purchase an electricity plan from a retail electric provider. Again, Choose Energy’s marketplace can help with that, allowing you to see the plans in your area. Sort by rate, term, renewable content, and more to make your choice.
Ready to see the energy plans available in your area? Just enter your ZIP on this page and start shopping.
Updated: 11/20/2020