Xcel Energy has accelerated its energy engine into utility markets across the US. The utility holding company distributes electricity to 3.4 million customers and natural gas to 1.9 million in eight states; Colorado and Minnesota account for the majority of its customers. Its regulated utilities -- Northern States Power, Public Service Company of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service -- have more than 20,500 MW of primarily fossil-fueled generating capacity. Xcel also has 35,200 miles of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. Pushing green energy sources, in 2008 Xcel announced that it would develop solar-generated power plants in Colorado as part of its green energy initiative.

California Water Service Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. It engages in the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution, and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public, and irrigation uses, as well as for fire protection. The company also provides non-regulated water-related services, including the operation of water and recycled water systems; leasing communication antenna sites on its properties; meter reading and billing services; sewer and refuse billing services; lab services for water quality testing; selling surplus property; and the marketing and billing of third party insurance programs to residential customers. As of December 31, 2009, it served approximately 467,100 customers in 83 communities in California; 15,600 customers in the Tacoma and Olympia areas in Washington; 7,800 water and wastewater customers in the Belen, Los Lunas, and Elephant Butte areas in New Mexico; and 4,200 water and wastewater customers on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

SEMCO ENERGY is owned by energy investment firm Continental Energy Systems through its Cap Rock Holding unit. Alaska and Michigan have more in common than a cold climate. SEMCO ENERGY serves approximately 410,000 natural gas consumers in both states. The company's main subsidiary is utility SEMCO ENERGY Gas, which distributes gas to about 280,000 customers in 24 Michigan counties. SEMCO's ENSTAR Natural Gas unit distributes gas to about 130,000 customers in and around Anchorage, Alaska. The company's unregulated operations include propane distribution in Michigan and Wisconsin; pipeline and storage facility operation; and information technology outsourcing.

ALLETE provides light to the northern climes. Most of its business is classified within its regulated operations, which include electric, gas, and water utilities located in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Those operations are conducted through subsidiaries Minnesota Power (about 145,000 customers) and Superior Water, Light and Power (about 35,000 customers for its electric, gas, and water utilities). ALLETE's other segment includes coal mining operations, emerging technologies related to electric utilities, and a real estate business (large land tracts in Florida). Subsidiary BNI Coal operates a mine in North Dakota that supplies, primarily, two generating co-ops, Minnkota Power and Square Butte.

Union Gas has a habit of bringing natural gas and energy consumers together. The utility, a subsidiary of midstream maven Spectra Energy transmits and distributes natural gas to more than 1.3 million residential and business customers in more than 400 communities throughout most of the Canadian province of Ontario. It also provides gas transportation and storage services for other utilities and businesses in Canada and the US. Union Gas operates 3,000 miles of transmission pipeline, 37,000 miles of distribution main and service pipeline, and 22 underground storage facilities.

Water is delivered by Mediterranea delle Acque (formed by the early 2006 merger of Italian water utilities Ferrari -- Acquedotto De Ferrari Galliera, Acquedotto Nicolay, Acqua Italia, and Genova Acque. Prior to the merger Acquedotto De Ferrari Galliera delivered about 45 million cubic meters (1.5 billion cubic feet) of water annually to about 350,000 customers. The company is also is involved in firefighting services, electricity sales, and water well-drilling. Rome-based utility AMGA owns 68% of the company.

The Chugoku Electric Power Co. makes western Japan shine. The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to more than 5.2 million customers in the Chugoku region of western Japan. Approximately 89% of its customers are residential, and commercial and industrial customers account for the rest. The company's 110 power plants generate about 11,800 MW; traditional thermal plants generate about 65% of its power. Chugoku Electric intends to increase its use of nuclear power and is also researching alternative energy sources. In response to Japan's electricity market liberalization, the group is entering new business markets, including consulting, construction, fuel supply, and telecommunications.

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail marketing and distribution of propane, fuel oil, and refined fuels, and the marketing of natural gas and electricity in the United States. The company’s Propane segment involves in the retail distribution of propane to residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers, as well as wholesale distribution to large industrial end users. Its Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment engages in the retail distribution of fuel oil, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline to residential and commercial customers for use primarily as a source of heat in homes and buildings. The company’s Natural Gas and Electricity segment markets natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers in the deregulated energy markets of New York and Pennsylvania. Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. also sells, installs, and services various whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, hearth products, and space heaters to the customers of propane, fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity products. As of September 26, 2009, it served approximately 850,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers through approximately 300 locations in 30 states located primarily in the east and west coast regions of the United States, including Alaska. Suburban Energy Services Group LLC serves as the general partner to Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. was founded in 1945 and is based in Whippany, New Jersey.

Artesian Resources Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides water, wastewater, and engineering services on the Delmarva Peninsula. It distributes and sells water to residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, municipal, and utility customers in the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The company also provides water for public and private fire protection to customers in its service territories. In addition, it designs and builds water and wastewater infrastructure; and provides contract water, wastewater, and engineering services. As of December 31, 2009, the company had approximately 76,900 metered customers and 730 wastewater customers, and served a population of approximately 276,000. It served customers through approximately 1,124 miles of transmission and distribution mains. The company was founded in 1905 and is headquartered in Newark, Delaware.

Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation provides power to more than 67,000 members located in 10 counties (Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk and Rutherford) in the Southwestern Piedmont region of North Carolina. The cooperative (which had a membership of only 394 in 1938, but grew rapidly after WWII) owns and maintains about 7,000 miles of power line. Rutherford Electric has total assets of more than $300 million. The cooperative is a member of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives network.

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