COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 221112

Fossil Fuel Power Generation

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

74companies1883–2000founding years74still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedWPS Resources Corporation
1883
FoundedMadison Gas and Electric Company
1896
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedUnicom Corporation
1907
FoundedEdison International
1909
FoundedLG&E Energy Corporation
1913
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedPPL Corporation
1920
FoundedGreat Plains Energy Incorporated
1922
FoundedFlorida Public Utilities Company
1924
FoundedFPL Group, Inc.
1925
FoundedSeaboard Corporation
1928
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.
FoundedPetrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedEntergy Corporation
1949
FoundedHokkaido Electric Power Company Inc. (HEPCO)FoundedThe Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc.
1951
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedSideco Americana S.A.
1961
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.
FoundedCalpine Corporation
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedPowergen PLC
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedWestar Energy, Inc.
1992
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.
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

WPS Resources Corporation →
Active · founded 1883
WPS Resources Corporation (WPSR) was created in 1993 to act as a utilities holding company.
WPS Resources Corporation →
Active · founded 1883
WPS Resources Corporation (WPSR) was created in 1993 to act as a utilities holding company.
Bewag AG →
Active · founded 1884 · Germany
Berlin-based Bewag AG supplies Germany's capital city with electricity.
Bewag AG →
Active · founded 1884 · Germany
Berlin-based Bewag AG supplies Germany's capital city with electricity.
Madison Gas and Electric Company →
Active · founded 1896
Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE) is a relatively small power company that has remained independent and profitable…
Madison Gas and Electric Company →
Active · founded 1896
Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE) is a relatively small power company that has remained independent and profitable…
Exelon Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
Exelon Corporation was formed from the 2000 merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom Corporation.
Exelon Corporation →
Active · founded 1902
Exelon Corporation was formed from the 2000 merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom Corporation.
Unicom Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Unicom Corporation was created in 1994 as a holding company for The Commonwealth Edison Co., Inc.
Unicom Corporation →
Active · founded 1907
Unicom Corporation was created in 1994 as a holding company for The Commonwealth Edison Co., Inc.
Dominion Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
Dominion Resources, Inc.
Dominion Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1909
Dominion Resources, Inc.
Edison International →
Active · founded 1909
Edison International, formerly known as SCEcorp, acts as a holding company for Southern California Edison, one of the…
Edison International →
Active · founded 1909
Edison International, formerly known as SCEcorp, acts as a holding company for Southern California Edison, one of the…
Canadian Utilities Limited →
Active · founded 1911 · Canada
Company Origins: 1900-25 The earliest enterprise of Canadian Utilities Limited was Canadian Western Natural Gas…
Canadian Utilities Limited →
Active · founded 1911 · Canada
Company Origins: 1900-25 The earliest enterprise of Canadian Utilities Limited was Canadian Western Natural Gas…
LG&E Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1913
LG&E Energy Corporation is a diversified energy services company formed in 1990 as a holding company for the Louisville…
LG&E Energy Corporation →
Active · founded 1913
LG&E Energy Corporation is a diversified energy services company formed in 1990 as a holding company for the Louisville…
PNM Resources Inc. →
Active · founded 1917
PNM Resources Inc.
PNM Resources Inc. →
Active · founded 1917
PNM Resources Inc.
PPL Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
PPL Corporation operates as an international energy company providing electricity and natural gas to more than 1.4…
PPL Corporation →
Active · founded 1920
PPL Corporation operates as an international energy company providing electricity and natural gas to more than 1.4…
Ameren Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Ameren Corporation provides a variety of energy services to over 2.2 million customers in Missouri and Illinois with a…
Ameren Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Ameren Corporation provides a variety of energy services to over 2.2 million customers in Missouri and Illinois with a…
Great Plains Energy Incorporated →
Active · founded 1922
Great Plains Energy Incorporated is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCPL), which serves both…
Great Plains Energy Incorporated →
Active · founded 1922
Great Plains Energy Incorporated is the holding company for Kansas City Power & Light Company (KCPL), which serves both…
NorthWestern Corporation →
Active · founded 1923
One of the United States' fastest-growing companies, NorthWestern Corporation is a diversified holding company with…
NorthWestern Corporation →
Active · founded 1923
One of the United States' fastest-growing companies, NorthWestern Corporation is a diversified holding company with…
Florida Public Utilities Company →
Active · founded 1924
Florida Public Utilities Company (FPU) is a small but growing publicly traded energy company, providing electricity,…
Florida Public Utilities Company →
Active · founded 1924
Florida Public Utilities Company (FPU) is a small but growing publicly traded energy company, providing electricity,…
Allegheny Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Allegheny Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Allegheny Energy, Inc.
FPL Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Early 1980s:FP&L begins new management style inspired by Japanese practices.
FPL Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Early 1980s:FP&L begins new management style inspired by Japanese practices.
VEW AG →
Active · founded 1925 · Germany
VEW AG is one of Germany's leading utility companies and is active throughout Europe.
VEW AG →
Active · founded 1925 · Germany
VEW AG is one of Germany's leading utility companies and is active throughout Europe.
Seaboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
1960s-70s:Company builds flour mills in eastern and southeastern United States.
Seaboard Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
1960s-70s:Company builds flour mills in eastern and southeastern United States.
Cleco Corporation →
Active · founded 1934
Cleco Corporation, which employs over 1,400 people, is a major provider of electricity and related services to…
Cleco Corporation →
Active · founded 1934
Cleco Corporation, which employs over 1,400 people, is a major provider of electricity and related services to…
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A. →
Active · founded 1947 · Argentina
Petrobras Energia Participaciones S.A.
The Southern Company →
Active · founded 1947
The Southern Company is a utility holding company whose principal subsidiaries provide power in Alabama, Georgia,…
The Southern Company →
Active · founded 1947
The Southern Company is a utility holding company whose principal subsidiaries provide power in Alabama, Georgia,…
Entergy Corporation →
Active · founded 1949
Entergy Corporation is a holding company for utilities that supply electrical energy to over 2.5 million customers in…
Entergy Corporation →
Active · founded 1949
Entergy Corporation is a holding company for utilities that supply electrical energy to over 2.5 million customers in…
Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
The Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc.
Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
The Chugoku Electric Power Company Inc.
Hokkaido Electric Power Company Inc. (HEPCO) →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Hokkaido Electric Power Company Inc.
Hokkaido Electric Power Company Inc. (HEPCO) →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Hokkaido Electric Power Company Inc.
Shikoku Electric Power Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Shikoku Electric Power Company, Inc.
Shikoku Electric Power Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
Shikoku Electric Power Company, Inc.
The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc.
The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1951 · Japan
The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc.
Sime Darby Berhad →
Active · founded 1958 · Malaysia
Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in southeast Asia.
Sime Darby Berhad →
Active · founded 1958 · Malaysia
Sime Darby Berhad is the largest conglomerate in Malaysia and one of the largest in southeast Asia.
Sideco Americana S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Argentina
Sideco Americana S.A.
Sideco Americana S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Argentina
Sideco Americana S.A.
AES Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
AES Corporation is one of the largest independent producers of electrical power in the world, with an ownership stake…
AES Corporation →
Active · founded 1981
AES Corporation is one of the largest independent producers of electrical power in the world, with an ownership stake…
Calpine Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Calpine Corporation is a leading independent power company with 90 percent of its capacity derived from gas-fired power…
Calpine Corporation →
Active · founded 1984
Calpine Corporation is a leading independent power company with 90 percent of its capacity derived from gas-fired power…
Dynegy Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Dynegy Inc.
Dynegy Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Dynegy Inc.
Powergen PLC →
Active · founded 1989 · United Kingdom
Powergen PLC is a leading integrated gas and electric company created from the breakup of the nationalized electricity…
Powergen PLC →
Active · founded 1989 · United Kingdom
Powergen PLC is a leading integrated gas and electric company created from the breakup of the nationalized electricity…
Scottish and Southern Energy plc →
Active · founded 1989 · United Kingdom
Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) operates as one of the largest energy concerns in the United Kingdom.
Scottish and Southern Energy plc →
Active · founded 1989 · United Kingdom
Scottish and Southern Energy plc (SSE) operates as one of the largest energy concerns in the United Kingdom.
Westar Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992 · Topeka, Kansas 66601-0889
1930s:KPL acquires the United Power and Light Corporation.
Westar Energy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992 · Topeka, Kansas 66601-0889
1930s:KPL acquires the United Power and Light Corporation.
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
E.On AG →
Active · founded 2000 · Germany
E.On AG is the largest listed power generation company in Europe.
International Power PLC →
Active · founded 2000 · United Kingdom
International Power PLC is the largest of the three main electricity-generating companies created from the breakup of…
International Power PLC →
Active · founded 2000 · United Kingdom
International Power PLC is the largest of the three main electricity-generating companies created from the breakup of…
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