Electricity retailing in the context of "Electricity distribution"

An electric utility, or a power company, is a company in the electric power industry (often a public utility) that engages in electricity generation and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. Electric utilities are major providers of energy in most countries.

Electric utilities include investor owned, publicly owned, cooperatives, and nationalized entities. They may be engaged in all or only some aspects of the industry. Electricity markets are also considered electric utilities—these entities buy and sell electricity, acting as brokers, but usually do not own or operate generation, transmission, or distribution facilities. Utilities are regulated by local and national authorities.

The electric power industry covers the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric power to the general public and industry. The commercial distribution of electric power started in 1882 when electricity was produced for electric lighting. In the 1880s and 1890s, growing economic and safety concerns lead to the regulation of the industry. What was once an expensive novelty limited to the most densely populated areas, reliable and economical electric power has become an essential aspect for normal operation of all elements of developed economies.

By the middle of the 20th century, electricity was seen as a "natural monopoly", only efficient if a restricted number of organizations participated in the market; in some areas, vertically integrated companies provide all stages from generation to retail, and only governmental supervision regulated the rate of return and cost structure.

An electricity market is a system that enables the exchange of electrical energy through an electrical grid. Historically, electricity has been primarily sold by companies that operate electric generators, purchased by electricity retailers, and sold to customers.

The electric power industry began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States and United Kingdom. Throughout the 20th century, and up to the present, many countries have made changes to their system of supplying and/or purchasing electricity. Change has been driven by many factors, ranging from technological advances (on both the supply and demand side) to politics and ideology.

Electricity delivery is the process that starts after generation of electricity in the power station, up to the use by the consumer.The main processes in electricity delivery are, by order:

• Transmission
• Distribution
• Retailing