Electric
Georgia Power, 41 electric membership corporations (EMCs), and 52 municipally-owned electric systems operate throughout the state. It is largely territorial with one exception (see below). Barring that exception, the Kennesaw area is split between Georgia Power and Cobb EMC.
The Power to Choose
The 1973 "Georgia Territorial Electric Service Act" enables customers with manufacturing or commercial loads of 900 kW or greater a one-time choice in their electric supplier. For the City of Kennesaw and surrounding area, the provider choices include Georgia Power, Cobb EMC and Acworth Power & Public Works.
Utilities
Natural Gas
In 1997, the General Assembly adopted the "Natural Gas Competition and Deregulation Act," (O.C.G.A. § 46-4-.151) to promote better competition. Natural gas has since operated under a de-regulated model similar to electric service. Three distributers operate in Georgia with Atlanta Gas Light, a subsidiary of Southern Company, dominating Metro Atlanta.
Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) owns the state's largest infrastructure system, which includes Metro Atlanta and the Kennesaw area. As a "pipes only" distributor, private businesses and individuals acquire service through a number of retail marketers certified to sale gas from AGL's system.
Marketers
More than a dozen firms are certified by the Georgia Public Service Commission to market natural gas to businesses and residences. Gas South, Georgia Natural Gas and Scana are the largest providers.
Utilities
Water & Sewer
Cobb County Water Systems (CCWS) provides water and sewer serves to Kennesaw, unincorporated Cobb County and the cities of Acworth and Powder Springs. Through regional relationships, CCWS treats wastewater from the cities of Marietta, Smyrna, Austell, and portions of the city of Atlanta and Bartow, Cherokee, Douglas, and Fulton counties.
Cobb County Water Systems
CCWS, in partnership with its wholesale provider, the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, is the water and sewer provider for most of the county. CCWS maintains more than 2,900 miles of water main ranging in size from 6 inches to 14 inches in diameter. Drawing on the Chattahoochee River and Lake Allatoona, it produces up to 158 million gallons of drinking water a day.