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How many electric & gas utilities are there in Europe?
According to Eurostat, the number of electricity generating companies which represents at least 95% of national net electricity generation remained "limited to five or fewer in four EU Member States." During 2003 to 2015, a significant number of new, most presumably small size companies across Europe entered the IMPRO (import and production) natural gas market during this period, from 174 in 2003 to more than 500 companies in 2015.
From Hoovers' database, using the applicable NAICS code, the total identified number of electricity/power utilities from 50 countries in Europe is 212,630 while for natural gas utilities are around 9,300. This number may be considered "not comprehensive" to represent the exact number for the whole of Europe as this was just taken from one specific database.
EUROPE'S ELECTRIC UTILITIES
According to a recent report by Eurostat (taken as at February 2017 data with most recent numbers and figures available from 2015 with a planned update by February 2018), during the period 2003-2015, the number of "main electricity generating companies" in the European Union "fluctuated between 82 and 93 companies." Main retailers and main electricity generating companies are defined as market coverage above 5% of national electricity generation or they are considered main if they sell "at least 5% of the total national electricity consumption." In 2015, the total number of electricity generating companies representing at least 95% of net electricity generation at a national level in the whole of Europe was at 4,674.
The 4,674 total companies are from the EU Member States (EU-28) and including Norway, Montenegro, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey. Germany's latest available data was from 2012 with reported figures of more than 450 companies and I used this number to add up to determine total in Europe. In 2003, the total number was 2,199.
Using Hoovers' database to determine the total number of electric power generation using the following NAICS code and considering only figures for Europe countries:
The total identified number of companies for all the above segment of electric power generation is 212,630. This number was from 50 listed countries of Europe in this list [List of countries in Europe] from Albania to the United Kingdom.
EUROPE'S GAS UTILITIES
Eurostat's latest report (taken as at February 2017 data with most recent numbers and figures available from 2015 and planned update will be on February 2018) was made available regarding natural gas markets in the European Union that presents the latest statistical data on the number and activities of companies that "either bring natural gas into the country or by national production (import and production, or is called IMPRO) and retail companies across EU Member States (EU-28) and including Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)." In 2015, the number of main natural gas IMPRO companies/entities with a market share of 5% or more was at 75 as compared to 53 in 2003.
The identified total number of entities bringing natural gas in the above-mentioned EU countries (excluding countries with no significant gas market like Malta and Cyprus and also the Netherlands as there was no report available for this country) was 535 in the year 2015. The number of these entities in 2003 was just 174 of which the report stated that "a significant number of new (small size) companies entered the IMPRO natural gas market during this period."
In the gas retail sector, the total number of retailers/companies selling natural gas to final customers were 2,298 in 2015 with Germany accounting for the highest share of 946 retailers.
Using Hoovers' database to determine the total number of natural gas distributors to the whole of Europe using NAICS code 221210 — Natural Gas Distribution, the total identified number of companies is 9,300 (figures considered was only from the listed Europe countries). The scope of this number includes 1) entities primarily engaged in operating gas distribution systems; 2) entities that are known as gas marketers that buy gas from the well and sell it to a distribution system; 3) entities or establishments that are known as gas brokers or agents that arrange the sale of gas over gas distribution systems operated by others; and 4) entities or establishments primarily engaged in transmitting and distributing gas to final consumers. The 9,300 companies were from any of the 50 listed countries of Europe in this list [List of countries in Europe] from Albania to the United Kingdom.
CONCLUSION
Europe's companies in the electricity and gas utility sector are growing as seen from data reported from 2003 and ended 2015. Companies of both sector — electricity and gas — with a market share of 5% or more is represented by less than 100 companies each sector all throughout Europe.