Tampa Electric Company operates as an electric and gas utility company in Florida. The company operates through two divisions, Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas System. The Tampa Electric division purchases, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. As of December 31, 2006, this segment provided retail electric service to approximately 661,000 customers in west central Florida, including Hillsborough county, as well as parts of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas counties with a net winter system generating capability of 4,383 megawatts. It also engages in wholesale sales to utilities and other resellers of electricity. The Peoples Gas System division purchases, distributes, and sells natural gas for residential, commercial, industrial, and electric power generation customers in Florida. This segment operated a natural gas distribution system, which included approximately 10,000 miles of mains and 6,000 miles of service lines to serve approximately 332,000 customers. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Tampa Electric Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc.