The American Public Power Association (APPA) is the service organization for the nation's more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities that serve more than 43 million Americans. It was created in 1940 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Its purpose is to advance the public policy interests of its members and their consumers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment.

The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an international not-for-profit trade association working to harmonize global standards and regulations in the fast developing powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of PLC technology by delivering UPA certified products that comply with the specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will coexist or interoperate. This can range from simple coexistence to full interoperability. Products and applications range from, the most performance demanding back haul optical switch to customer premise equipment that delivers broadband access power line to the myriad of home networking appliances; from power line to Ethernet gateways for triple-play and home-networking applications, to consumer electronics appliances including Media Centre PCs, Digital TV, MP3 players, networked set-top boxes and PVRs; indeed all types of audio or video appliances. UPA provides all PLC players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certification, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today. Members of the UPA include Ambient Corporation, AcBel, Artheche, Comtrend, Corinex Communications, BPL Global, Buffalo, Cypress, DS2, Duke Power, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Intersil, Itochu Corporation, Logitec, Netgear, Pirelli, PCN Technology, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba, Watteco and TOYO Network Systems.

The United Power Line Council (UPLC) is an alliance of electric utilities and technology companies working together to drive the development of power line communications in a manner that helps utilities and their partners in North America. The UPLC's efforts are focused in three strategic areas: market awareness, regulatory and legislative advocacy, and technical operability.

The UPLC is an independent operating unit of the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC). UTC is the telecommunications and information technology trade association for electric and gas utilities, water companies, energy pipelines, and other critical infrastructure companies - both investor and publicly owned - as well as their technology partners.

The UPLC is an evolution of UTC's Power Line Telecom Forum (PLTF) that was created in 1998 with a similar mission. A key element of the new UPLC's mission will be the active partnership between utilities and PLC technology companies.

The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) is the telecommunications and information technology trade association for electric and gas utilities, water companies, gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure companies. Founded in 1948, UTC now is an international federation of direct business members and affiliated trade associations representing more than 10,000 organizations. Working together with its technology partners, UTC\'s ongoing mission is to create a favorable business, regulatory and technical environment in which its members and stakeholders will succeed.

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of United States shareholder-owned electric companies, international affiliates, and industry associates worldwide. Our U.S. members serve 97 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder owned segment of the industry, and 71 percent of all electric utility ultimate customers in the nation. They generate almost 60 percent of the electricity produced by U.S. electric generators.

Organized in 1933, EEI works closely with all of its members, representing their interests and advocating equitable policies in legislative and regulatory arenas. In its leadership role, EEI provides advocacy, authoritative analysis, and critical industry data to its members, Congress, government agencies, the financial community and other opinion-leader audiences. EEI provides forums for member company representatives to discuss issues and strategies to advance the industry and to ensure a competitive position in a changing marketplace.