power company
28
3.5
- noun
- /ˈpaʊər ˈkʌmpəni/
:
compañía eléctrica
- I called the power company to report a power outage in my neighborhood.
- local power company
- electric power company
- large power companies
Examples
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The power company is yet to reconnect us.
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When did we last pay the power company, Mr. Moon?
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I work for the power company.
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You still have contact with that official at the power company?
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I called the power company about getting an extension on the light bill.
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All of these sources of power can be generated by your power company and show up in your wall socket.
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Around the same time, states began passing laws requiring power companies to produce a given percentage of their electricity from renewable sources.
Academic text (2012) -
The community actually receives checks from the power company paying them for the solar energy they feed into the electricity grid.
Academic text (2008) -
In Taiwan, Taipower is the sole power company and is a monopoly run by the state.
Academic text (1990) -
In South Africa, the state electric power company supports long-term climate forecasting research.
Academic text (1997)
Synonyms
217
3.3
A service that supplies water, gas, or electricity to homes
8
3.2
An organization that provides essential services like water or electricity and is regulated by the government
8
2.9
A company that makes and sends power to homes and businesses
A company that supplies electricity to homes and businesses
A company that provides electricity to homes and streets
A company that supplies water, electricity, or gas and is run under government rules
How Big
- Specialized
28
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a company that generates and supplies electricity' is directly derivable from combining 'power' (electrical energy) with 'company' (an organization); it follows a standard noun+noun compound pattern. This is a literal, cross-linguistically common composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The compound power company comes from a simple picture: a group called a company that makes and sends out power. So today power company means a business that provides 'electricity' to homes and towns.