Final answer:
The invasive species with significant financial impacts on water utilities and power plants is the zebra mussel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invasive species that has had significant financial impacts on water utilities and power plants, clogging intake and distribution pipes, is the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha).
Zebra mussels are non-native organisms that invade waterways and alter the ecosystems they invade. They have infested man-made and natural surfaces and caused damage to locks, waterways, and power plants.
For example, in 2001, the Wisconsin Electric Power Company reported spending $1.2 million per year to control zebra mussels. These invasive species pose a threat to native species and aquatic ecosystems.