The transmission networks of most electric companies are interconnected, forming a power pool. Power pools enable companies to receive power from one another in an emergency. Computers control the flow of electric current through transmission networks. The electric power industry Organizations that generate, transmit, or distribute electric power are called electric utilities. In most countries, nearly every electric utility is the sole supplier of electric power in a particular area.
Government agencies regulate electric utilities to ensure that they serve the needs of the public.
In some countries, the government owns all electric utilities. In other countries, stockholders or cooperatives as well as the government may own electric utilities. In the United States, there are about 3,300 electric utilities. Stockholders own about 200 of them. These stockholder-owned electric companies account for about 75 percent of the nation's generating capacity.