Public utilities in Alabama are provided by a mix of investor-owned companies, public corporations, and local municipal boards.
* **Electricity**: Alabama Power (a subsidiary of Southern Company) serves the southern two-thirds of the state. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) provides power to the northern third. Rural areas are often served by member-owned electric cooperatives. * **Natural Gas**: Spire Energy is the largest provider of natural gas in the state, supplemented by various municipal gas boards. * **Water and Wastewater**: Managed locally by municipal and county water authorities (e.g., Birmingham Water Works Board, Mobile Area Water and Sewer System). * **Waste Management**: Trash and recycling collection are handled at the municipal level, often contracted out to private companies like Waste Management, Republic Services, and Amwaste. * **Telecommunications**: Major national providers like AT&T, Spectrum, and Xfinity cover urban areas, while state initiatives are actively working to expand broadband access to rural communities.