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.
The Town of Grand Lake is a Statutory Town located in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 447 at the 2000 census. This town is at an elevation of 8437 feet (2572 m) and was established in 1879. It derives its name from the nearby Grand Lake, the largest natural body of water in the state. The town was originally an outfitting and supply point for the mining settlements of Lulu City, Teller City and Gaskill, but today is more of a tourist town. It was incorporated June 23, 1944 and briefly held the county seat from 1882 to 1888.