What is the largest municipal utility in the United States?

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) holds the distinction of being the largest municipal utility in the United States. This status is primarily due to LADWP's extensive service area, which encompasses a diverse range of water and power services for millions of residents in Los Angeles. The utility manages a significant infrastructure that includes power generation facilities and a vast network of transmission and distribution lines, as well as a comprehensive water supply system sourced from both local and imported supplies.

LADWP's size and capacity are not merely a reflection of its customer base but also of its operational capabilities and the scale of resources it manages. Such factors contribute to its pivotal role in ensuring the reliability of essential utility services for one of the largest cities in the nation.

Other utilities mentioned do not operate on the same scale or with the same level of complexity. For instance, while the City of New York Water Department provides water service to a large population, it specializes solely in water utilities and does not include electric services. Similarly, the Chicago Water and Electric Company, while significant, is not a municipal utility as it operates under different regulatory frameworks. Houston Public Utilities also provides essential services but does not match the breadth and size of LADWP. This makes the Los Angeles Department