The public utility sector is diverse and complicated, encompassing everything from water and power delivery to garbage collection and sewage treatment. It is an essential element of our economy, and the corporations that operate in this sector are some of the most prominent in the commercial world.
Companies in this industry are responsible for ensuring that consumers have access to these critical services in a safe, dependable, and cost-effective way. In this article, we will discuss the public utilities industry and some of the top companies in the field.
Top 20 Companies in the Public Utilities Field
Below, we have highlighted the top public utility companies;
| Company Name | Industry | Average Salary (Annually) |
| American Electric Power | Electric Power Generation | $30,000 – $144,914 |
| Edison International | Electricity and Energy | $52,260 – $107,666 |
| Southern Company | Electric power distribution | $32,000 – $140,132 |
| Comcast Corporation | Telecommunications | $57,820 – $147,156 |
| Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | Electric services | $56,000 – $117,585 |
| Xcel Energy Inc. | Electricity and Natural Gas | $30,000 – $136,000 |
| National Grid | Electricity and Gas | $70,000 – $217,000 |
| American Water Works Company | Water and Wastewater Services | $43,360 – $162,000 |
| Verizon | Telecommunications | $45,000 – $160,000 |
| A.E.S. Corporation | Energy | $85,000 – $137,000 |
| AT&T | Telecommunications | $59,124 – $150,318 |
| Aqua America | Water Services | $38,801 – $314,053 |
| Duke Energy | Energy | $66,329 – $131,822 |
| Enel S.p.A | Green Energy | $50,415 – $262,867 |
| Iberdrola S.A. | Renewable Energy | $52,605 – $218,856 |
| NPower | Energy | $52,441 – $131,868 |
| Thames Water | Water | $39,808 – $111,384 |
| John Wood Group | Engineering Services | $57,321 – $155,290 |
| E.D.F. Energy | Energy | $39,000 – $106,000 |
| BP | Oil | $29234 – $112,000 |
1. American Electric Power
A.E.P. is a diverse energy firm that operates in 11 states and has a generation portfolio of almost 38,000 megawatts. American Electric Power Corporation is a publicly listed utility holding corporation based in Columbus, Ohio. The Company works through its subsidiaries.
The 67 million or more people living in parts of 11 states in the United States are within A.E.P.’s service zone. The company is considered the biggest provider of electric services in America and has been operating for more than a century.
Job Openings at American Electric Power:-
- Economic & Business Development Manager
- Retail Risk Manager
- Consumer Contract Analyst
- Solution Engineer Principal
- Supply Chain Business Analyst
2. Edison International
Edison International is a public utility holding company that invests in energy services and technology and produces and distributes gas and water. Its subsidiaries include Edison Energy Group, Inc., which provides commercial and industrial energy solutions.
Edison International, headquartered in Rosemead, California, is the parent corporation of Southern California Edison, one of the country’s major investor-owned electric utilities. It is a diversified energy firm with operations in 27 states and a generating capacity of almost 40,000 megawatts.
They also provide goods and services to increase sustainability, energy conservation, and renewable electricity in the United States, Chile, and the Philippines, which are only a few nations where Edison International conducts business.
Job Openings at Edison International:-
- Growth & Innovation Senior Advisor
- EIX Corporate Senior Financial Analyst
3. Southern Company
The Southern Corporation is an American electric utility holding corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It operates throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi and is a component of the US electricity market. With a producing capacity of over 44,000 megawatts, combined natural gas consumption, and throughput volume of 1,500 billion cubic feet, The Southern firm is a prominent energy firm.
Through its subsidiaries, the Company serves nine million customers and over four million consumers in the United States.
Job Openings at Southern Company:-
- I&C Specialist
- Facilities Project Coordinator
- Contracts Analyst
- Corrosion Technician II or III
- Transmission NERC CIP Compliance Coordinator
4. Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation is an American multinational media company and one of the world’s leading entertainment corporations. Comcast, headquartered in Philadelphia, offers cable television, Internet, and phone services to residential and commercial clients across the United States.
Comcast is also the nation’s third-largest residential phone service provider. It provides residential and commercial services to customers in forty states and the District of Columbia. In terms of revenues, it is the world’s fourth-largest telecommunications firm.
Job Openings at Comcast:-
- Development Engineer
- Software Development Engineer
- Project Manager
- Quality & Automation Engineer
- Security Engineer
- SDET Engineer
- Data Science Engineer
- Business Analyst
5. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
American electric utility company Pinnacle West Capital Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States. The Company’s principal subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (A.P.S.), serves over one million and two hundred thousand (1.2 million) consumers in 11 of the state’s 15 counties.
A.P.S. is Arizona’s primary utility business, overseen by the Arizona Corporation Commission (A.C.C.). In 1925, the firm became a part of the American Power and Light conglomerate, but it regained its independence in 1945.
Job Openings at Pinnacle West Capital:-
- Security Systems Operator
- Manager Site Finance PV
- Projects Control Specialist
- Human/Organizational Performance Consultant
- Construction/Maintenance Planner
6. Xcel Energy Inc.
The corporate headquarters of American public utility holding company Xcel Energy Inc. are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company serves over 3.3 million electricity and 1.8 million natural gas consumers in eight states and is openly traded under the symbol “X.E.L.” on the New York Stock Exchange.
In December 2018, Xcel Energy declared that it will provide 100 percent clean, carbon-free power by 2050 and reduce its carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2035 (compared to 2005 levels). This makes it the first major US utility to have such a target.
Job Openings at Xcel Energy:-
- Associate Consultant
- Senior Safety Consultant
- Director of Operational Technology Support
- Electric System Operator
- Operations Manager
- Senior Accounting Analyst
7. National Grid
National Grid plc is a British multinational electric and gas utility corporation based in London, England. Its main operations are in the United Kingdom, where it owns and runs transmission networks for natural gas and electricity, and in the Northeastern United States, where it produces and supplies gas and power to clients in Massachusetts and New York.
As a constituent of the FTSE 100, National Grid maintains a principal listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Job Openings at National Grid:-
- Grantor Relations Administrator
- Control Room Operator
- Learning Design & Innovation Manager
- Associate Planning Specialist
8. American Water Works Company
The utility was established in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company. American Water is a public utility corporation in the United States that operates via subsidiaries to offer water and wastewater services. Its regulated activities serve over 1,700 localities in 14 states, with a population of almost 14 million.
The corporation serves 3.4 million clients, including residential, commercial, fire service, private fire, industrial, government, and other water and wastewater utilities.
Job Openings at American Water Works:-
- SAP FICO Engineer
- Specialist, Technology Field Services
- Senior Engineer Automation & Controls (SCADA)
- Senior Project Engineer
- Planning Engineer Water & Wastewater
- Water Treatment Operator
- Senior Water Quality & Environmental Compliance Specialist
- Health and Safety Lead
- Health and Safety Program Manager
9. Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. is an American telecommunications firm based in New York City. It is the world’s second-biggest telecoms firm (behind China Mobile) in revenue, and its mobile network is the largest cellular carrier in the United States, with 114.8 million members as of 31 March 2024.
The company has a significant presence across the New York metropolitan area, with its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. In 2017, Verizon was considered the largest telecommunications operator in the United States, with 150 million mobile users and 108 million fixed-line customers.
Job Openings at Verizon:-
- Senior Engineer Consultant – Data Engineering
- Engineer III Consultant – Data Engineering
- Sr Mgr – Software Development
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10. A.E.S. Corporation
A.E.S. Corporation is an American utility and power-producing firm based in Arlington, Virginia. It owns and operates power plants, which produce and sell electricity to end consumers and intermediaries such as utilities and industrial enterprises. A.E.S. is one of the world’s largest power businesses, producing and distributing electricity in 15 countries and employing 10,500 people globally.
A.E.S. Corporation is a Fortune 500 power corporation with global operations. A.E.S. is ranked in the top ten of Fast Company’s 2022 Best Workplaces for Innovators.
Job Openings at AES Corporation:-
- Supply Chain Data Analyst
- Control Room Operator
- Solar Technician II
- Analyst, Business Operations Transformation
- Computer Vision and AI Specialist
- Senior Robotics Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Senior Project Estimator
11. AT&T
AT&T Inc. is a worldwide telecommunications holding corporation based in the Whitacre Tower in downtown Dallas, Texas. By revenue, it is the world’s third-largest telecommunications firm and the second-largest cellular provider in the United States, after Verizon but ahead of T-Mobile.
AT&T placed 13th on the Fortune 500 list of the biggest U.S. firms in 2023, with revenues of $122.4 billion. AT&T is also the second-biggest supplier of mobile phone services and the leading provider of landline telephone services in the United States.
Job Openings at AT&T:-
- Bilingual Spanish Part Time Retail Sales Consultant
- Part Time Retail Sales Consultant
- Lead Advanced Analyst
- Principal Software Engineer
- Field Sales Representative
12. Aqua America
Essential Utilities (previously Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas) is an American utility corporation with holdings in Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. The corporation offers drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and services.
Essential Utilities is the publicly traded parent company that controls the operations of Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas, both of which continue to do business under their previous identities.
Job Openings at Aqua America:-
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Environmental Compliance Specialist
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Wastewater Operator
-
Administrative Assistant
-
Supply Chain Specialist
-
Utility Worker
13. Duke Energy
Duke Energy Corporation is a Public Utility holding company for natural gas and electricity. With headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2024, the firm was rated the 141st largest in the United States, with its highest-ever position on the Fortune 500 list.
Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the US, it distributes 58,200 megawatts of peak and base load generation to its 7.2 million customers.
Job Openings at Duke Energy:-
- Community Relations Liaison
- Console Operator
- Nuclear Engineer III
- Sr Mechanical Engineer
- Manager, Talent Acquisition
- Senior Marketing Manager
- Critical Protection Officer
14. Enel S.p.A
Electricity and gas are produced and distributed by the international Italian corporation Enel S.p.A. Enel was founded as a public organization at the end of 1962 and then converted into a limited corporation in 1992. Enel was privatized in 1999 after Italy’s power market reform. The Italian state is the majority stakeholder through the Ministry of Economy and Finance, holding 23.6% of the share capital as of 1 April 2016.
Enel is the world’s 59th largest corporation by sales, with $147.79 billion in 2023. As of 2018, the company is the world’s second-largest electric utility corporation in revenue, trailing only China’s State Grid Corporation.
Job Openings at Enel SpA:-
- Legal Counsel
- Head of Operations & Maintenance
- Solar Technician
- Key Account Manager
15. Iberdrola S.A.
Iberdrola S.A. is a Spanish multinational electric utility corporation headquartered in Bilbao. It employs over 40,000 employees and services approximately 30 million clients. Subsidiaries include ScottishPower (U.K.) and a large portion of Avangrid (U.S.A.).
As of 2023, the Qatar Investment Authority is the Company’s largest stakeholder, with BlackRock and Norges Bank also having significant stakes. Iberdrola is the world’s biggest wind power generator and the second-largest electrical utility based on market capitalization.
Job Openings at Iberdrola SA:-
- Bank of Talents for Young Apprentices
- Supervisor – Electric Line Operations
- Wind turbine Technician – Renewables
- Lead Analyst
- Engineer – Distribution Infrastructure
- Digital Planning Manager
- Senior OSW Project Engineer
16. NPower
NPower is a British company that provides gas and electricity. It primarily focuses on B2B collaborations, providing services to other businesses. Meters and software for monitoring energy use are among the products offered by the Company. NPower is a subsidiary of E.ON.
It employs people in concession management, administration, consultancy, distribution, engineering, information technology, and digital media.
Job Openings at NPower:-
- Flex Technical Instructor
- Director, Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation
- Sr. Specialist, Education Data Analytics and Integration
- Sr Specialist, Project Management
- Security Operations Analyst
17. Thames Water
Thames Water is a Public Utility company that provides public water delivery and wastewater treatment in London, the surrounding suburbs, and other parts of the U.K., including Kent. The firm accepts applicants with specialities in natural sciences, civil engineering, or quality control and hires workers for administrative and customer service positions.
Job Openings at Thames Water:-
- Maintenance Site Manager
- Engineering Operations Manager
- Mechanical & Electrical Technician
- Senior Wastewater Modeller
- Commercial & Contracts Lead
- Senior Project Manager
18. John Wood Group
The John Wood Group, sometimes known as Wood, is a Scottish-based engineering and consultancy firm with a global footprint. It operates in a dozen countries and has over 30,000 employees. Applying for a position with John Wood Group may open doors to possibilities in asset management, building services, construction, and regulatory affairs.
As an employee, you may be able to travel for work regularly or migrate to other places, including offices in different countries or continents, due to the nature of the organization.
Job Openings at John Wood Group:-
- Senior Engineer – Coatings and Cathodic Protection
- Creative Services Associate
- Senior Document Controller
19. E.D.F. Energy
E.D.F. Energy is a British energy supplier. It caters to both individual and commercial consumers. The Company specializes in solar power equipment, smart meters, electric vehicles, heating systems, and boilers. E.D.F. provides employment possibilities around the country and in Ireland. If you want to work with E.D.F., look into customer service, technology, engineering, or nuclear sciences positions.
Job Openings at EDF Energy:-
- Project Quality Manager
- Data & Insight Manager
- Customer Journey & Experience Manager
- Assistant Project Manager
- Safety Case Assurance Lead
20. BP
BP is a British oil and gas company with headquarters in London. It is a global leader in the energy industry. The company works internationally, including offices in Europe, the Americas, Australasia, Asia, and Africa. It controls various brands specializing in developing, manufacturing, and distributing fuels, such as motor oil and specialty lubricants.
If you join the business, you can take advantage of valuable training possibilities and further your career as an engineer, brand manager, scientist, or administrative professional.
Job Openings at BP:-
- Execution Senior Analyst
- Business Analyst
- Payments Analyst
- Business Analytics Manager
- BSA Operations Senior Analyst
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are Public Utilities?
Public utilities are companies that provide essential services to the public, such as electricity, natural gas, water, sewage treatment, and telecommunications..
2. Can you Name Some of the Largest Companies Operate in Public Utility Field?
Some of the largest public utility companies, include Duke Energy, NextEra Energy, Dominion Energy, Southern Company, and American Electric Power.
3. How are Public Utility Companies Regulated?
Public utility companies are typically regulated by federal, state, and local government agencies. These agencies set rates, ensure service reliability, and oversee infrastructure investments to protect consumers and ensure the availability of essential services.
4. What are Some Challenges Faced by Public Utility Companies?
Public utility companies face challenges such as regulatory pressures, the need for infrastructure modernization, the transition to renewable energy sources, environmental concerns, and managing the impacts of climate change.
5. How Do Public Utilities Contribute to Sustainability?
Many public utility companies are investing in renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. They are also implementing energy efficiency programs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving water conservation efforts to contribute to sustainability.
6. How Does the Public Utilities Sector Impact the Economy?
The public utilities sector plays a critical role in the economy by providing essential services that enable other industries to operate. Reliable utility services are vital for economic stability and growth, affecting everything from manufacturing to residential living standards.
