Madison, WI – On the latest episode of the Electric Wire podcast, we take a closer look at the investor-owned utility model with Jeff Keebler, Chairman, President, and CEO of Madison Gas and Electric. Jeff shares more insights on how investor-owned utilities work, how they’re regulated, and the new technologies changing the power dynamics in the industry.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) electric power sector survey data, almost 3,000 electric distribution companies—or utilities—are operating in the United States. EIA classifies utilities into three ownership types: investor-owned utilities, publicly run utilities such as municipal utilities, and cooperatives.

This episode features investor-owned utilities, or IOUs, which are large electric distributors that issue stock owned by shareholders. Almost three-quarters of utility customers get their electricity from these companies. Upcoming episodes will discuss municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.

Note: MGE is a member of the Customers First! Coalition, which produces the Electric Wire podcast.

Listen to the Electric Wire podcast wherever you get your podcasts or listen/watch at our YouTube channel here:

Links and additional reading:

Energy Information Administration (EIA): https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=40913

Madison Gas and Electric https://www.mge.com/

Wisconsin Utilities Association https://www.wiutilities.org/

Edison Electric Institute https://www.eei.org/

American Gas Association https://www.aga.org/

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin https://psc.wi.gov/

Public Service Commission of Wisconsin: Electric Service Territory Maps https://maps.psc.wi.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bb1a9f501e3d472cbde970310540b466

Wisconsin Legislative Council: Overview of Wisconsin’s Public Utility Regulatory System https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lc/information_memos/2017/im_2017_01