1.   Although Southern has no Massachusetts generating facilities, it hopes to become an energy provider in the state.

2.   But much of it was based on getting dozens of small energy providers to either increase output or build new facilities.

3.   But the installation cost, maintenance and effort involved in these energy efficiencies have kept most Americans captive to their electric, gas and other energy providers.

4.   Customers may choose to own their own meters or lease them from energy service providers, utilities or brand new entities.

5.   He said the group also represents a coalition of consumers, employers, energy providers, and environmentalists, but he declined to be more specific.

6.   Hertzberg stressed that the Bush plan does not address alleged price gouging by energy providers.

7.   If the company fails in court, he said, he expected renewable energy providers to try within a week to force Southern California Edison into involuntary bankruptcy.

8.   King said utility.com offered better discounts than other energy providers.

9.   Last month, Washington ordered utilities to open their transmission systems to outside energy providers.

10.   Not only did it have to fight a rancorous battle to dislodge an entrenched energy provider, it also took a huge long-term gamble that it might yet lose.