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.
Arbuckle is a census-designated place (CDP) in Colusa County, California, United States. The population was 2,332 at the 2000 census. The town entrance sign on I-5 only says 864 people, but it's very old and hasn't been updated. The town of Arbuckle is situated in the southerly portion of Colusa County, approximately 20 miles (32 km) southwest of the City of Colusa, the County seat. Arbuckle is characterized by single-family residences, multiple-family units, some mobile homes, and commercial activities. The land surrounding Arbuckle is mostly agriculture including cultivated annual crops, and both active and unmaintained orchards. Regional access is provided by the north south running Interstate Highway 5.