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.

Portsmouth Water Limited serves an area of the UK extending from South East Hampshire to West Sussex, and from the River Meon to the River Arun. Portsmouth Water supplies about 160 million liters of water per day. Its 301,200 customers include industries, government establishments, and commercial businesses, as well as a residential population of 657,000. The company operates a 3,270-km network of water mains and about 20 treatment works. About 85% of the company's supply comes from groundwater sources.

China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC) is building the world's largest hydropower project -- the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. Located near the Xilingxia gorge, a 185-meter-high project dam controls a drainage area of 1 million square km and an average annual runoff of 451 billion cubic meters. Construction on the massive project broke ground in 1994 and is expected to formally wrap up in late 2008. Subsidiary China Yangtze Power was set up in 2002 to manage two power plants, Gezhouba and Three Gorges. In 2009, in a major cash infusion, this unit paid its parent for the remaining 18 generators at the Three Gorges project.

Down by the riverside there's power, and City of Riverside, California, Electric Utility (which does business as Riverside Public Utilities) distributes it to more than 105,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and water to more than 63,000 customers in Riverside, California. The municipal electric utility has interests in power plants (partly through its membership in the Southern California Public Power Authority), and it buys and sells wholesale power. City of Riverside, California, Electric Utility also owns water wells and treatment facilities.

Unitil Corporation company serves about 100,500 electric customers and 70,000 natural gas customers. Unitil Energy Systems provides regulated electric utility services to 72,600 customers in New Hampshire, and subsidiary Fitchburg Gas and Electric has some 27,900 power and 15,120 natural gas customers in Massachusetts. Unitil's utility units provide retail supply services to customers who don't choose to purchase energy from a third-party marketer. Indirect subsidiary, Usource LLC, provides energy brokerage service to large energy users throughout the Northeast seeking competitive power or natural gas supplies.

Macao Water Supply Co. Ltd,the utility supplies its customers with water from the West River's Modaomen Channel in Zhuhai City. Because of the high salinity content in the water (especially in the winter and spring months), Macao Water Supply uses a system of holding tanks and purification stations. Founded in 1932, the company is a subsidiary of Sino-French Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited (a joint venture of France-based water utility Ondeo Services and Hong Kong-based NWS Holdings Limited). As part of an ongoing maintenance strategy the company has replaced or repaired all of the distribution network that was in place in 1982.

Avista Corporation, an energy company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy and energy-related businesses in the United States and Canada. The company operates through two segments, Avista Utilities and Advantage IQ. The Avista Utilities segment engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy primarily from hydroelectric and thermal sources. This segment also distributes natural gas to retail customers in parts of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and parts of northeast and southwest Oregon, as well as engages in wholesale purchase and sale of electricity and natural gas. As of December 31, 2009, it provided retail electric service to approximately 356,000 customers; and retail natural gas service to approximately 316,000 customers. This segment offers electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The Advantage IQ segment provides utility expense management solutions to assess and manage utility costs and usage to multi-site companies in North America. It offers invoice processing, auditing and payment services, energy procurement, reporting, and advanced analysis, as well as provides analytical support, reporting, and consulting services. In addition, Avista’s other investments and operations include sheet metal fabrication of electronic enclosures, parts, and systems for the computer, telecom, renewable energy, and medical industries; real estate investments, primarily commercial office buildings; and investments in venture capital funds and low income housing. The company was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Spokane, Washington.

TransAlta has transformed itself from one of Canada's largest electric utilities into a global independent power producer with assets in Australia, Canada, and the US. The company has about about 8,990 MW of operational generating capacity. It trades and markets electricity and gas in Canada and the US. Most of TransAlta's generating capacity is coal-fired; the rest comes from gas-fired, hydroelectric, and alternative-energy plants. TransAlta has sold its regulated distribution and transmission businesses to focus on power generation and marketing, primarily to industrial and wholesale customers. The company has more than 80 power plants in Australia, Canada, and the US.

National Fuel Gas Company, through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified energy company primarily in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Utility, Pipeline and Storage, Exploration and Production, and Energy Marketing. The Utility segment sells natural gas or provides natural gas transportation services to approximately 727,000 customers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Jamestown, New York; and Erie and Sharon, Pennsylvania. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services for affiliated and nonaffiliated companies through an integrated gas pipeline system; and 27 underground natural gas storage fields, as well as 4 other underground natural gas storage fields owned and operated jointly with other interstate gas pipeline companies. This segment also transports natural gas for industrial customers and power producers in New York State. It owns the Empire Pipeline, a 157-mile pipeline; and the Empire Connector, which is a 76-mile pipeline extension. The Exploration and Production segment engages in the exploration for, and the development and purchase of natural gas and oil reserves in California, in the Appalachian region of the United States, and in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana. As of September 30, 2009, this segment had proved developed and undeveloped reserves of 46,587 thousand barrels of oil and 248,954 million cubic feet equivalent of natural gas. The Energy Marketing segment markets natural gas to industrial, wholesale, commercial, public authority, and residential customers primarily in western and central New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. National Fuel Gas company also develops and operates mid-range independent power production and landfill gas electric generation facilities. National Fuel Gas Company was founded in 1902 and is based in Williamsville, New York.

YTL is hot, thanks to having many irons in many different fires. Incorporated in 1955, the Malaysian conglomerate is primarily engaged in utilities and construction, although it is also active in high-speed rail, cement manufacturing, residential property development, hotel and resort management, and technology incubation. In addition to providing electricity to residents in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia, YTL owns Wessex Water, a leading water and sewerage operator in the UK. Construction arm Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay offers construction services for schools, army barracks, hospitals, hotels, and other large infrastructure projects. Chairman Yeoh Tiong Lay and his sons own 47% of the company.

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