Better PLC, or Better Place as it goes by, wants people to imagine a world free of oil. The startup, which was founded in 2007 on $200 million of venture capital, is teaming with automakers, battery manufacturers, energy companies, and governments to help make electric cars more viable worldwide. As an alternative to traditional gas stations, the company is attempting to build and operate an electric recharge grid to power electric car battery recharging stations, which drivers pay to access (much as phone users pay to access a mobile network). Better Place has begun work with partners in Australia, China, Denmark, Israel, Japan,and the US on this sustainable model. The company was founded by CEO Shai Agassi.

Wheelabrator Technologies is on a roll. A subsidiary of solid-waste processing giant Waste Management, the company operates municipal-waste incinerators and trash-to-steam plants that convert 7 million tons of municipal solid waste annually into energy. Wheelabrator operates 16 waste-to-energy plants that burn solid waste to produce high-pressure steam; that steam turns turbines, generating more than 800 MW of electricity -- enough to power more than 900,000 homes. It also has five independent power producers (IPPs) that combust a combination of trash, waste wood, tires, coal, and gas to generate another 200 MW of electricity. Wheelabrator operates in the northeastern US, California, Florida, and Washington.

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) is prepared to serve an entire island nation. Founded in 1941, the government-owned utility is the sole electricity distributor for Puerto Rico, where it serves approximately 1.4 million residential and business customers. PREPA owns five primarily fossil-fueled power plants that give it nearly 5,800 MW of generating capacity, and it has more than 30,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines. In order to keep up with increasing demand, the Puerto Rican government has allowed independent power producers to build cogeneration plants on the island to sell power to PREPA.

Southern Company isn't just whistling Dixie. The holding company is one of the largest electricity distributors in the US. It operates regulated utilities Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power, and Mississippi Power, which combined have a generating capacity of more than 42,900 MW and serve more than 4.4 million electricity customers in the southeastern US. The good ol' power company also has energy marketing operations, and it provides energy consulting and management services for businesses and institutions. Through its Southern LINC Wireless unit, it provides wireless communications services in its US utility territory; its Southern Telecom unit offers wholesale fiber-optic services.

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.

Exelon Corporation company distributes electricity to 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois (including Chicago) and southeastern Pennsylvania (including Philadelphia) through subsidiaries Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and PECO Energy. PECO also distributes natural gas to 485,000 customers. Subsidiary Exelon Generation holds the company's power plants, whose production capacity is just about 25,000 MW. About two-thirds of Generation's power is nuclear. Exelon Power Team is a top wholesale energy marketer, and Exelon Energy markets retail power and offers other energy-related services.

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.

RGC Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy services company. It primarily engages in the regulated sale and distribution of natural gas in Virginia. RGC Resources, Inc. also provides non regulated services to its customers. It distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial users through underground mains and service lines. As of September 30, 2009, RGC Resources, Inc. had approximately 1,034 miles of transmission and distribution pipeline serving 56,119 customers. RGC Resources, Inc. was founded in 1912 and is based in Roanoke, Virginia.

Integrys Energy Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a regulated electric and natural gas utility company in the United States and Canada. It provides natural gas utility services in Chicago, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. As of December 31, 2009, Integrys Energy Group, Inc. served approximately 1,669,000 residential, commercial and industrial, transportation, and other customers. It had approximately 22,000 miles of natural gas distribution mains; and approximately 1,010 miles of natural gas transmission mains. The company also generates and distributes electric energy form coal, natural gas, fuel oil, hydroelectric, and wind resources in Wisconsin and Michigan. It served approximately 489,000 residential, commercial and industrial, wholesale, and other customers. In addition, Integrys Energy offers nonregulated energy supply and services; and electric transmission services. Integrys Energy Group, Inc. was formerly known as WPS Resources Corporation and changed its name to Integrys Energy Group, Inc. in February 2007. Integrys Energy Group, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

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.

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.