COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4931

Electrical and Other Services

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1903–1998founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedDTE Energy CompanyFoundedDTE Energy Company
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedPG&E CorporationFoundedPG&E Corporation
1905
FoundedNorthern States Power CompanyFoundedNorthern States Power Company
1909
FoundedSouthern Indiana Gas and Electric CompanyFoundedSouthern Indiana Gas and Electric Company
1912
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedBayernwerk AGFoundedBayernwerk AG
1921
FoundedTractebel S.A.FoundedTractebel S.A.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedDestec Energy, Inc.FoundedDestec Energy, Inc.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedKeySpan Energy Co.FoundedKeySpan Energy Co.FoundedSempra EnergyFoundedSempra Energy
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

DTE Energy Company →
Active · founded 1903
DTE Energy Company serves roughly 2 million electrical customers in southeastern Michigan.
DTE Energy Company →
Active · founded 1903
DTE Energy Company serves roughly 2 million electrical customers in southeastern Michigan.
PG&E Corporation →
Active · founded 1905
PG&E Corporation is one of the largest power and gas distributors in the United States, with several energy-related…
PG&E Corporation →
Active · founded 1905
PG&E Corporation is one of the largest power and gas distributors in the United States, with several energy-related…
Northern States Power Company →
Active · founded 1909
Northern States Power Company (NSP) provides electricity and gas to customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota,…
Northern States Power Company →
Active · founded 1909
Northern States Power Company (NSP) provides electricity and gas to customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota,…
Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company →
Active · founded 1912
Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO) is an electric and gas utility company serving the southwest portion…
Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company →
Active · founded 1912
Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO) is an electric and gas utility company serving the southwest portion…
Bayernwerk AG →
Active · founded 1921 · Federal Republic of Germany
Bayernwerk AG is the largest electricity supplier in Bavaria and one of the largest in Germany.
Bayernwerk AG →
Active · founded 1921 · Federal Republic of Germany
Bayernwerk AG is the largest electricity supplier in Bavaria and one of the largest in Germany.
Tractebel S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · Belgium
Tractebel S.A.
Tractebel S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · Belgium
Tractebel S.A.
Destec Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
A subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, Destec Energy, Inc.
Destec Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1989
A subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, Destec Energy, Inc.
KeySpan Energy Co. →
Active · founded 1998
KeySpan Energy Co.
KeySpan Energy Co. →
Active · founded 1998
KeySpan Energy Co.
Sempra Energy →
Active · founded 1998
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company which was formed by the 1998 merger of Pacific…
Sempra Energy →
Active · founded 1998
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company which was formed by the 1998 merger of Pacific…
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