USA Utilities Update
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Who provides electricity in the United States?
USA utilities are delivered to homes by three main groups:
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Commercial companies run electricity and natural gas pipelines. City governments maintain water, wastewater, trash, and recycling. Citizen cooperatives develop when commercial entities and local governments cannot provide service due to remoteness of location or low population density within a region.
However, provider types and infrastructure formats often vary depending on city logistics.
However, provider types and infrastructure formats often vary depending on city logistics.
Are electric providers always investor-owned commercial companies?
No, utility administration is not standardized in the USA and cities can structure their utilities in any format that enables full service to the most citizens.
No, utility administration is not standardized in the USA and cities can structure their utilities in any format that enables full service to the most citizens.
Is my utility cost too high?
Critics believe utility companies charge excessive premiums for not much service, simply allowing power and gas to flow into homes, however maintaining cables and pipelines is a massive undertaking. Energy delivery is most easily dictated by a single entity and thus natural monopolies tend to arise around utility servicing. In some markets there is only one provider, leaving consumers with few pricing options.
This has led to localized experiments for new ways to create competition, like the market in Houston, Texas where residents can choose from a list of several electric companies who are authorized to pull power from the central grid. Or the market in Los Angeles, California where the local government sells electricity to fund energy initiatives, endorse movement toward clean energy, and increase competition to lower costs for citizens. Or the market in New York where the government incorporates performance-based regulations to reward companies for meeting renewable energy objectives.
Critics believe utility companies charge excessive premiums for not much service, simply allowing power and gas to flow into homes, however maintaining cables and pipelines is a massive undertaking. Energy delivery is most easily dictated by a single entity and thus natural monopolies tend to arise around utility servicing. In some markets there is only one provider, leaving consumers with few pricing options.
This has led to localized experiments for new ways to create competition, like the market in Houston, Texas where residents can choose from a list of several electric companies who are authorized to pull power from the central grid. Or the market in Los Angeles, California where the local government sells electricity to fund energy initiatives, endorse movement toward clean energy, and increase competition to lower costs for citizens. Or the market in New York where the government incorporates performance-based regulations to reward companies for meeting renewable energy objectives.
Who can I contact about my utility concerns?
Utility providers are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a government agency, within each state. Prior to contacting the PUC, your concern must be addressed with your service provider. Take notes including the date, time, and response to your problem. If the provider is unwilling to assist you, then a complaint may be filed with the Public Utilities Commission using the information you collected. View the APL guide: How to File a PUC Complaint.
Utility providers are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), a government agency, within each state. Prior to contacting the PUC, your concern must be addressed with your service provider. Take notes including the date, time, and response to your problem. If the provider is unwilling to assist you, then a complaint may be filed with the Public Utilities Commission using the information you collected. View the APL guide: How to File a PUC Complaint.
Thinking about moving to a big city?
See who provides utilities in your future home:
See who provides utilities in your future home:
Utility Providers in USA's Largest Energy Markets
3rd Millennium: Appreciation and Change
Modern civilians don’t see the massive amount of planning and labor that goes into our basic daily amenities. A week in the mountains reminded us of how challenging it is to get fresh water into our location, get wastewater out, and to have heat and light and power. City planners previously spent all their resources on getting utilities in and out of homes, but didn’t worry about where waste went after. Trash and wastewater was pumped into oceans and inlets. Times have changed and now we focus on sustainable resources. We are diligently working on new methods to change trash into usable byproducts and to purify wastewater before returning it to the earth and its oceans.
Modern civilians don’t see the massive amount of planning and labor that goes into our basic daily amenities. A week in the mountains reminded us of how challenging it is to get fresh water into our location, get wastewater out, and to have heat and light and power. City planners previously spent all their resources on getting utilities in and out of homes, but didn’t worry about where waste went after. Trash and wastewater was pumped into oceans and inlets. Times have changed and now we focus on sustainable resources. We are diligently working on new methods to change trash into usable byproducts and to purify wastewater before returning it to the earth and its oceans.
American Power and Light
What are the largest US energy companies?
Pacific Gas and Electric (CA):
9.7 million utility consumer accounts
Duke Energy (NC):
9.2 million utility consumer accounts
SoCalGas (CA):
6 million utility accounts
American Water System
How much water does the US consume daily?
The USGS estimates the USA uses 90 gallons of water per day per person.
This equates to 29 billion gallons of water daily for personal use considering the current population.
Water usage swells to 350 billion gallons each day when including commercial and agricultural consumption.
Gas Pipeline
How many natural gas pipelines are in the USA?
The EIA calculates 210 natural gas transmission pipelines extend over 300,000 miles within the United States and lead to over 2 million miles of distribution pipelines delivering natural gas to homes and businesses.
Waste Collection
How much trash does the USA create daily?
The EPA estimates the USA creates 5 pound of trash per day per person.
This equates to 1.6 million pounds of trash daily considering the current population.
