The Chugoku Electric Power Co. makes western Japan shine. The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to more than 5.2 million customers in the Chugoku region of western Japan. Approximately 89% of its customers are residential, and commercial and industrial customers account for the rest. The company's 110 power plants generate about 11,800 MW; traditional thermal plants generate about 65% of its power. Chugoku Electric intends to increase its use of nuclear power and is also researching alternative energy sources. In response to Japan's electricity market liberalization, the group is entering new business markets, including consulting, construction, fuel supply, and telecommunications.

Taiwan Power (Taipower) is looking to get by with a little help from its friends. With a generating capacity of more than 38,080 MW, the state-owned utility serves nearly 12 million industrial, commercial, and residential customers. Thermal sources (coal, oil, and liquefied natural gas) fuel most of Taipower's plants; nuclear energy and hydroelectric sources make up the balance. Unable to meet Taiwan's power needs on its own, the utility has opened its market to independent power producers, allowing companies to build power plants and sell to Taipower. Taipower has resumed construction on the nation's fourth nuclear plant. The Taiwan government has announced plans to privatize Taipower (it owned 97% in 2009).

Pennon Group Plc South West Water subsidiary provides water and wastewater services to more than 1.6 million people (more during the summer tourism season) in England's South West region, including Devon, Cornwall, and parts of Dorset and Somerset. South West Water's Echo South West unit contracts to run customer service operations for utilities. Pennon subsidiary Viridor Waste -- one of the largest waste management businesses in the UK -- offers solid waste collection, landfill disposal, and recycling and other services.

Beacon Industrial Group's companies shed a shining light on a murky world of grime and pollution so that manufacturing clients can operate more efficiently in cleaner environments. Group companies manufacture air, gas, and liquid filtration systems; develop dust collection technology and equipment; and make air pollution control systems and wet scrubbers. Applications include power generation, textile manufacturing, chemicals, and waste handling. Operating subsidiaries include Pneumafil Group, LCI Corporation, Menardi, and MikroPul. The group operates in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Pure water is the aim of water process engineering specialist Enpure. Enpure specializes in treating water, wastewater, and sludge for municipalities and businesses. Its services include process design and project management for water treatment facilities worldwide. There are more than 4,000 plants in 60 countries designed by Enpure. The company licenses the sonix ultrasound sewage treatment technology sold through Sonico, Enpure's joint venture with Atkins. It had been a part of the support services division of water utility AWG until its management (in partnership with Aberdeen Asset Management) bought out the company at the end of 2006. The company changed its name from PURAC at that time.

The Dakota Electric Association delivers electricity to residents of southeastern Minnesota, the Gopher State , so they don't have to burrow underground for those long, cold winters. The member-owned utility serves more than 100,000 customers in portions of Dakota, Goodhue, Rice, and Scott counties south of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The co-op gets its power wholesale from transmission cooperative Great River Energy and distributes it over 3,720 miles of power lines, nearly two-thirds of which are buried. Dakota Electric is pushing energy efficiency programs and products to help save its customers money.

Volunteer Energy Cooperative is voluntarily cooperating with its members to serve their energy needs. The distribution utility serves more than 108,000 customers (who also own the cooperative) in 17 central and eastern Tennessee counties. It operates more than 8,400 miles of power lines. Volunteer Energy purchases its power supply from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The company also sells propane and provides telecommunications (Internet access and long-distance phone) services. In addition, Volunteer Energy offers its customer surge protection and security equipment.

Pepco Energy Services continues to sail right along. The company provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in deregulated areas (primarily the US eastern seaboard, Chicago, and Texas). The nonregulated energy supply company, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, offers services in energy management, energy-efficiency consulting, "green power" facilities development and construction, and equipment maintenance. It operates two power plants with a aggregate capacity of 790 MW. Pepco Energy Services also provides its customers the choice of sourcing power from green sources (from solar, wind, and biomass plants).

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.

The Board of Public Utilities of Kansas City, Kansas (known as the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities) will help light the way. The utility provides electric transmission and distribution services to approximately 65,000 customers and water distribution services to 51,000 customers in the Kansas City metropolitan area (in Wyandotte and Johnson counties). The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities also has interests in coal, gas, and oil-fired power generation facilities. The utility is owned by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City.

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