GET TO KNOW THE BEST SERVICE PROVIDERS IN YOUR AREA

Utilities manage and deliver energy to homes and businesses everywhere. In regulated regions, they produce or purchase this energy. Public utility commissions set rates for consumers in such areas. 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.

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.

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), founded in 1818 and now a Sempra Energy subsidiary, provides gas and electricity to 3.6 million customers in San Diego and parts of Orange County. Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), operating for over 140 years as part of Sempra Energy, serves 20 million customers across southern California, from the Mexican border to Visalia.

Eversource, formerly Connecticut Light and Power, serves over 1.2 million electric and 222,000 gas customers in New England. The United Illuminating Company, an Avangrid subsidiary founded in 1899 in New Haven, CT, delivers electricity to 325,000 customers in 17 areas around Bridgeport and New Haven.

Founded in 1856 and based in Atlanta, Atlanta Gas Light, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, is the largest natural gas distributor in the southeastern U.S., serving over 1.6 million residential and commercial customers in Georgia.

ComEd, under Exelon Corp, serves 3.8 million customers in Illinois. Ameren Illinois, part of Ameren Corporation, supplies energy to 1.2 million electric and 816,000 gas users, managing vast infrastructure in the state. North Shore Gas, founded in 1856 and linked to People’s Gas, caters to 159,000 customers in the northern Chicago area. Nicor Gas, established in 1954 and affiliated with AGL Resources, is the main gas utility in northern Illinois with a vast pipeline network.

Central Maine Power, founded in 1899, provides electricity to 600,000 customers in central and southern Maine, managing over 25,000 miles of electric wires. Versant Power, formerly known as Emera Maine, caters to around 160,000 customers in areas including the Bangor Hydro and Maine Public districts.

Central Hudson Gas & Electric delivers electricity to 300,000 customers in New York's Mid-Hudson River Valley, stretching from the NYC suburbs to Albany. Consolidated Edison Co. (ConEd), established in 1823, has grown to become one of the world's largest energy providers, serving 10 million New Yorkers. National Grid's subsidiary, Keyspan New York, caters to 3.6 million natural gas and 3.4 million electricity customers across New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Central Hudson Gas & Electric delivers electricity to 300,000 customers in New York's Mid-Hudson River Valley, stretching from the NYC suburbs to Albany. Consolidated Edison Co. (ConEd), established in 1823, has grown to become one of the world's largest energy providers, serving 10 million New Yorkers. National Grid's subsidiary, Keyspan New York, caters to 3.6 million natural gas and 3.4 million electricity customers across New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

In regulated areas, your utility determines your energy source based on your location. In deregulated areas, while utilities manage delivery, you can choose your energy supplier. Check the "price to compare" on your bill to assess costs. Utility Savings Hub can help you find better deals. In Texas, you must pick a plan from a retail electric provider. Using the Utility Savings Hub, you can compare local options.