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.
Pioneer (formerly, Pioneer Station) is an unincorporated community in Amador County, California. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) east-northeast of Pine Grove, at an elevation of 2986 feet, along State Route 88. The community is in ZIP code 95666 and area code 209. Pioneer was a stage stop for the Pony Express riders, and the old Pioneer Station still stands. A post office opened in Pioneer in 1957.