Georgia’s utility infrastructure is managed by a combination of large investor-owned utilities, municipal systems, and rural cooperatives.
* **Electricity:** **Georgia Power** (a subsidiary of Southern Company) is the primary electric utility for much of the state. Additionally, there are over 40 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) providing power to rural and suburban areas. * **Natural Gas:** The state has a deregulated natural gas market. **Atlanta Gas Light** owns and maintains the pipeline infrastructure, but consumers choose their gas supply from various state-approved marketers (e.g., Gas South, Georgia Natural Gas). * **Water and Sewer:** Water is managed at the municipal and county levels. For example, the **Atlanta Department of Watershed Management** and **DeKalb County Watershed** are major providers in the metro area, sourcing mostly from the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier. * **Waste Management:** Local municipalities coordinate trash and recycling, often contracting with major private firms like **Republic Services** and **Waste Management**, alongside robust county-run sanitation departments.