Public utilities provide electric, gas, water or telephone service to customers in a specified area. Utilities have a duty to provide safe and adequate service on reasonable terms to anyone who lives within the service area on without discriminating between customers. Because most utilities operate in near monopolistic conditions, they can be heavily regulated by local, state, and federal authorities. Generally, the local and state agencies are called Public Service Commissions (PSC) or Public Utility Commissions (PUC). Municipal Utilities and Rural Electric Cooperatives may be unregulated though.
Bismarck is an unincorporated community between Hot Springs and Caddo Valley on State HWY 7 and 84 in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States. Bismarck is an unincorporated rural area. In 2002 the local clinic was closed. As a result, the state of Arkansas declared it an MUA (Medically Underserved Area) and BCHC, Inc. was formed to bring health care to the Bismarck area. Bismarck has two restaurants: DJ's Drive In and Pizza Shack. There are also two markets: the BCM (Bismarck Community Market), and the Dollar General. Bismarck has three gas stations located on State Highways 7 and 84. The post office, two banks, a storage facility, laundromat, antique stores, a flower shop and the Elementary, Middle, and High schools are all within one block of the main intersection. Bismarck is located near DeGray Lake, a beautiful tourist attraction that has several designated camping areas.