Let's cut right to the point: construction materials and mining used to be the lifeblood of Knife River Corporation, but in recent years, its energy and utility operations have grown to be the largest portion of its business. Oil and natural gas production, power transmission, pipelines and power utilities now dominate Knife River's balance sheet. But don't count out its construction services division, which continues to produce record earnings. Knife River has operations in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, and Wyoming. The company is a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, Inc.

Southern Union Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the gathering, processing, transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas in the United States. It operates in three segments: Transportation and Storage, Gathering and Processing, and Distribution. The Transportation and Storage segment engages in the interstate transportation and storage of natural gas in the Midwest and from the Gulf Coast to Florida. It also provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminalling and regasification services. The Gathering and Processing segment involves in gathering, treating, processing, and redelivering natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) in Texas and New Mexico. It operates a network of approximately 5,500 miles of natural gas and NGL pipelines, 4 cryogenic processing plants with a combined capacity of 410 MMcf/d, and 5 natural gas treating plants with a combined capacity of 585 MMcf/d. The Distribution segment engages in the local distribution of natural gas in Missouri and Massachusetts. This segment serves approximately 550,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers through local distribution systems consisting of 9,140 miles of mains, 6,185 miles of service lines, and 45 miles of transmission lines. Southern Union company was founded in 1932 and is based in Houston, Texas.

UIL Holdings, parent of electric utility The United Illuminating Company (UI), hopes its well regulated business will result in regular revenue growth. The public utility distributes electricity to 325,000 customers in southwestern Connecticut. Its service area, largely urban and suburban, includes the principal cities of Bridgeport (population 137,000) and New Haven (population 124,000) and their surrounding areas. UIL Holdings has teamed up with NRG Energy to form GenConn Energy LLC, a joint venture that focuses on developing new power generation facilities in Connecticut. In 2010 the company acquired three gas utilies in New England from IBERDROLA USA for $1.3 billion.

Enersis S.A., through its subsidiaries, engages in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. It generates electricity using water, coal, oil or natural gas, and wind resources. The company also transports natural gas to refineries, generators, distribution companies, and industrial and mining clients; develops real estate; provides consulting and engineering services in various specialties; and engages in tunnel operation. In addition, it provides information technology (IT) services, which include outsourcing and infrastructure, data centers, contact centers and mass printing services, remote applications service provider, and assessment and implementation of technology solutions to support business processes; products integration, information systems services and technologies, and implementation and maintenance; and IT solution construction and development for high availability and complex business processes. Further, Enersis S.A. offers various products and services related to electricity comprising measuring and certification services; engineering, construction, assembly, and electric power operations; and energy consulting services to companies in various industrial sectors, such as retail, telecommunications, manufacturing, agro-industrial, and mining. As of December 31, 2008, it had an installed generation capacity of 13,893 MW, and supplied electricity to approximately 12 million customers. The company was formerly known as Compania Chilena Metropolitana de Distribucion Electrica S.A. and changed its name to Enersis S.A. in 1988. Enersis S.A. was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Santiago, Chile. Enersis S.A. operates as a subsidiary of Endesa Latinoamerica SA.

Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU) has seen the future and it works -- powered by electricity. The company is the largest nonregulated retail electric provider in Texas (TXU Energy), with 2.1 million customers, and through its Luminant unit it has a generating capacity of more than 15,510 MW from its interests in nuclear and fossil-fueled power plants in the state. Energy Future Holdings has regulated power transmission and distribution operations through 80%-owned Oncor Electric Delivery. Oncor operates the largest regulated distribution and transmission system in Texas, providing power to more than 3.1 million electric delivery points over more than 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines.

Catalytic Combustion Corporation clears the air -- literally and alliteratively. The company makes systems, processes, and products to help customers eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants in order to meet air-quality standards. Catalytic Combustion's catalysts -- substances that accelerate the rate of chemical reactions -- are used in a host of industries and products, ranging from appliances to graphic arts to nuclear power plants. The company makes catalysts from materials such as ceramics, metal foil, and wire mesh. Catalytic Combustion was founded in 1950.

American Labelmark wants to take some of the danger out of hazardous materials. The firm's Labelmaster division sells books, training manuals, and protective equipment (such as steel salvage drums and spill kits) to companies that transport hazardous materials, helping them navigate the maze of government rules. It also makes labels and signage for hazardous materials and infectious waste transportation, along with labels concerning workplace safety and ergonomics. Its Reg-Trieve software division sells compliance materials on compact disks. American Labelmark also offers regulatory information online.

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.

Caithness region might well serve as an inspiration for Caithness Corp., which develops wind and other renewable power plants in the US under the Caithness Energy brand. Although the firm has focused on the development, acquisition, operation, and management of geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy power projects, it also develops environmentally friendly fossil-fueled plants. Caithness is one of the largest producers of renewable energy in the US, and has developed more than 350 MW of geothermal projects, 160 MW of solar plants, and 440 MW produced by wind turbines. On the cleaner fossil fuel plant side it has also developed more than 2,000 MW of gas-turbine powered capacity.

Dee Valley Group, operating through its Dee Valley Water unit, supplies water to more than 106,000 households and 8,250 commercial, industrial, and business customers in North East Wales and Cheshire. Dee Valley Water, formed from the combination of Wrexham Water and Chester Waterworks, supplies water to an 831-sq.-km. area. Dee Valley Water exited its nonwater operations in 2002. The company has been investing in its mains and distribution system to preventage leakage, and in 2005 it completed a 15-year water main rehabilitation program. It also commissioned a water treatment works at Pendinas. Dee Valley Group was created in 1994 as the holding company for Wrexham Water. Axa Sun Life owns 35% of the company.

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