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.
Adair is an unincorporated community in McDonough County, Illinois. Adair is part of the New Salem Township. The town is served by U.S. Route 136, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad runs through the town. Adair was laid out in August 1870 under the name of Reedyville; though the name has never been officially changed, the location is known as Adair because that name was given to the post office.