The utility sector is lagging the S&P 500 this year as investors fret over the impact of rising interest rates on utilities.

For investors looking to gain exposure or take a contrarian view on this sector, the following are the ten largest US electric utilities:

1.Company: Consolidated Edison Inc. (ED)
Current Dividend Yield: 4.17%

2.Company: Northern Utilities (NU)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.62%

3.Company: Edison International (EIX)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.88%

4.Company: Portland General Elect. Co. (POR)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.46%

5.Company: Sempra Energy (SRE)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.10%

6.Company: Southern Co. (SO)
Current Dividend Yield: 5.08%

7.Company: Duke Energy Corp. (DUK)
Current Dividend Yield: 4.83%

8.Company: Entergy Corp. (ETR)
Current Dividend Yield: 5.30%

9.Company: NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.21%

10.Company: American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.94%

Note: Dividend yields noted above are as of Sept 15, 2015. Data is known to be accurate from sources used.Please use your own due diligence before making any investment decisions.

Source: Electric Utilities:Perhaps not the Investment One Expects, Horizon Kinetics LLC

Disclosure: Long NEE