Empresa Energetica de Mato Grosso Sul, or Enersul, brings electricity to the farmers and ranchers of Brazil's state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Cattle ranching and other crop cultivation (sugarcane, wheat, soybeans) are the region's main industries and the company's biggest customers. Enersul distributes 1.4 million megawatts of electricity to about 640,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers via more than 70 municipalities across the state. It generates a small percentage of its power but most comes from Eletrosul parent ELETROBRAS and other sources. Enersul is owned by Energias do Brasil, which is controlled by EDP - - Energias de Portugal.

Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (Piedmont Power) generates, purchases, and transmits wholesale electricity on behalf of its 10 member municipal utilities, which distribute the power to nearly 95,000 retail customers in northwestern South Carolina. These ten utilities serve the cities of Abbeville, Clinton, Easley, Gaffney, Greer, Laurens, Newberry, Rock Hill, Union, and Westminster. Piedmont Power was created to buy an ownership interest in the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, South Carolina, in order to secure a reliable source of electric generation for its member utilities.The agency currently owns a 25% stake in the Catawba plant.

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) electrifies the Cornhusker State. The government-owned electric utility provides power in 91 of the state's 93 counties. The firm has a generating capacity of more than 3,000 MW and operates more than 5,000 miles of transmission lines. NPPD distributes electricity to more than 88,000 retail customers in 80 cities and towns; it also provides power to about 1 million customers through wholesale power contracts with 52 towns and 25 public power districts. In addition, NPPD purchases electricity from the federally owned Western Area Power Administration and operates a surface water irrigation system.

Owensboro, Kentucky (named after Abraham Owen, a Shelby County legislator killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe) is served by Owensboro Municipal Utilities, which provides power to almost 26,000 customers and water to 24,500. The city-owned utility operates water treatment facilities and a power plant that uses coal and used tires for fuel. Its operating divisions are Elmer Smith power plant, Engineering & Operations, Water Production, and Customer Service Center. It also offers telecommunications services. Owensboro Municipal Utilities is overseen by the five-member Owensboro Utility Commission, which is appointed by the mayor of Owensboro.

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.

Environmental Waste Controls (EWC) slows down the fill-up of UK landfills. The company leases and sells waste-compactor equipment and provides maintenance services for the compactors. It also collects, transports, and recycles or disposes of waste for its 400-plus public- and private-sector customers, which include manufacturing and retail companies, food processors, hotels (such as Hilton and Radisson Hotels), railway stations, National Health Service Trusts, and local governments. The company was the subject of a management buyout in 2004. EWC was founded in 1993.

Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona, S.A. (Agbar) distributes water to more than 12 million people (almost 19 million during tourist season) and provides wastewater services for more than 6.2 million people. The company also has stakes in water businesses in Chile and the UK. Agbar has sold its solid-waste collection and treatment operations in order to focus on its core water business. Activities in Spain account for about 83% of the company's sales. Agbar is 66%-owned by Holding de Infraestructuras y Servicios Urbanos S.A.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative's mission is similar to the late Lady Bird Johnson's quest to spread wildflower seeds along Texas' highways -- the cooperative spreads currents of electricity among rural central Texas dwellers. One of the largest power distribution cooperatives in the state, Bluebonnet Electric serves almost 80,000 customers in 14 counties. The member-owned company, which was formed in 1939, operates approximately 11,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines, and 19 substations. It purchases its wholesale power supply at 21 Lower Colorado River Authority-owned substations.

Clay Electric Cooperative covers a lot of ground in Florida. The utility distributes electricity to 14 counties in the northeastern part of the state, including the suburbs of Jacksonville and Gainesville. It delivers power to its 165,000 residential, commercial, and industrial members over more than 12,800 miles of transmission lines. The consumer-owned utility offers electronic funds transfer, average billing, and a seniors payment plan to residential customers, and backup diesel power generation and special rate plans to businesses. The consumer-owned utility has a stake in Seminole Electric Cooperative, which provides generation services to Clay Electric and nine other cooperatives.

Tractebel Engineering (formerly SUEZ-TRACTEBEL) is Belgium's top utility holding company and one of the world's top independent power producers, with operations in more than 100 countries on five continents (through Suez Energy International). As part of the family of companies that make up French energy conglomerate GDF SUEZ, Tractebel Engineering distributes electricity and natural gas; transports and stores gas; is involved in energy trading and marketing; and offers energy and industrial management, infrastructure, and engineering services. GDF SUEZ subsidiary and #1 power producer in Belgium, Electrabel, took ownership of the company in 2007.

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