RWE AG is a German electric utilities company operating in the areas of energy generation, distribution, transmission, and the trading of gas and electricity. The company was founded in 1898 and opened its first power station in 1900. RWE has a strong presence in Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands and is one of the leading power generation companies in Europe. RWE employs 59,762 workers and is headquartered in Essen, Germany.