Shikoku Electric Power, like the island it serves, is making bridges to new areas. One of 10 regional electric utilities licensed by the Japanese government to generate, transmit, and distribute power, Shikoku (known as Yonden in Japan) provides electricity to more than 4 million people in the four prefectures of Shikoku. The company has a generating capacity of more than 6,660 MW, primarily from nuclear and fossil-fueled plants; however, Shikoku is converting some of its oil-fueled plants to liquefied natural gas. Shikoku has expanded beyond its power utility business into activities such as Internet access, cable TV, remote monitoring and control systems, and rest homes for the elderly.

AGL Energy emerged from the Australian Gas Light Company (Australia's oldest energy company, founded in 1837). AGL Energy is the country's major electricity retailer. It is also a top gas retailer and distributor in Australia. AGL Energy retails gas to 1.4 million customers and electricity to 1.8 million customers. Its residential and small business customers are located in New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria, while its commercial and industrial customers are primarily in Queensland. AGL Energy is also a leading renewable energy company.

Energy and Power Solutions (EPS) would like to help. The start up company, which promises up to a 25% energy savings using its methods, makes most of its money building on-site clean energy power plants. It also sells electrical and thermal power and operates power plants on behalf of its customers. But EPS touts its xChange Point energy monitoring software as the growth engine of the future. The software tracks energy use at the device, plant, and enterprise level in real time; EPS analysts use the data to recommend energy saving changes. The company, which filed to go public in 2010, has four customers using its products at more than 60 locations.

Public Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County, Washington (or Cowlitz County Public Utility District), a Depression era institution that provides electric utility services to 47,400 customers (including 42,400 residential customers and 5,200 commercial clients) in its service territory. The municipal utility also serves more than 3,800 Longview-Kelso area water utility customers. Like 27 other PUDs in Washington state, Cowlitz County Public Utility District has the authority to offer electric, water, wastewater, and wholesale telecommunication service.

NorthWestern, once a holding company for several energy-related businesses, is now blowing in one direction only -- providing power and gas through regulated utilites. Through its NorthWestern Energy subsidiary, the company provides electricity and natural gas to about 661,000 customers in Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In Montana it delivers electricity to approximately 335,000 customers in 187 communities and surrounding rural areas, 15 rural electric cooperatives, and in Wyoming to the Yellowstone National Park. NorthWestern delivers gas to 180,100 Montana customers. In Nebraska and South Dakota it sells natural gas to 85,5100 customers.

Brazos Electric is a 3,219 megawatt generation and transmission cooperative whose members' service territory extends across 68 counties from the Texas Panhandle to Houston. Organized in 1941, Brazos Electric was the first cooperative formed in the Lone Star state for the purpose of generating and supplying electrical power. Today, it is the largest generation and transmission cooperative in Texas. Brazos Electric is the wholesale power supplier for its 16 member-owner distribution cooperatives and two municipal systems.

"Hey Culligan Man!" To be sure, the phrase made famous by an ad campaign still rings in the ears of Culligan International workers. Formerly a subsidiary of Veolia Environnement, Culligan produces filters for tap water, household water softeners, microfiltration products, desalination systems, and portable deionization services for commercial and industrial users. The franchised "Culligan Man" noted in the advertising phrase delivers bottled water and water systems to consumers and businesses through more than 800 Culligan company-owned and franchised dealers in more than 90 countries. Buyout firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice owns the company.

Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) provides water utility services in both northern and southern England. The company's primary subsidiary, Northumbrian Water Limited, provides water and wastewater services to 2.6 million people in North East England under the Northumbrian Water brand; it provides water to 1.8 million people in South East England, where it operates as Essex and Suffolk Water. NWG also controls a number of special purpose companies with contracts in Scotland, Ireland, and Gibraltar. The company's SA Agrer NV unit conducts project work in developing countries, The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan controls 26% of the company.

Emera is an emerging force in a new energy era. Subsidiary Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) generates, transmits, and distributes more than 97% of the electricity in Nova Scotia, where it serves 486,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Most of NSPI's more than 2,290 MW generating capacity is from fossil fuel plants. Emera has electric utility operations into the US through its Maine-based Bangor Hydro-Electric, which serves about 117,000 customers. It markets wholesale energy and provides asset management services. Emera owns Brunswick Pipeline (which ships LNGs), and has a minority stake in Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (natural gas). It also has minority stakes in utilities in the Caribbean.

Northwest Natural Gas Company stores and distributes natural gas in Oregon, Washington, and California. The company operates in two segments, Local Gas Distribution and Gas Storage. The Local Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas in Oregon and southwest Washington. This segment engages in building and maintaining pipeline distribution system, purchasing gas from producers and marketers, contracting for the transportation of gas over pipelines from the supply basins to service territory, and reselling the gas to customers. It also transports gas owned by customers from the interstate pipeline connection, or city gate, to the customers’ facilities. This segment serves various industries, including pulp, paper, and other forest products; companies manufacturing electronic, electrochemical, and electrometallurgical products; companies engaged in processing of farm and food products; metal fabrication and casting companies; organizations that produce various mineral products, machine tools, machinery, and textiles; companies that manufacture asphalt, concrete, and rubber; printing and publishing companies; nurseries; government and educational institutions; and electric generation companies. As of December 31, 2009, it served approximately 668,000 total utility customers comprising approximately 605,000 residential, 62,000 commercial, and 1,000 industrial sales and transportation customers. The Gas Storage segment offers underground natural gas storage services to interstate and intrastate customers in the Pacific Northwest. It holds interests in approximately 8,500 net acres of underground natural gas storage in Oregon and approximately 1,900 net acres of underground natural gas storage in California; and interests in approximately 1,600 net acres of oil and gas leases in Oregon. This segment serves primarily natural gas distribution, electric generation, and energy marketing companies. Northwest Natural Gas Company was founded in 1910 and is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

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