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.
Winnetka is a village located approximately 14 miles (23 km) north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka is located at 42°6′22″N 87°44′16″W / 42.10611°N 87.73778°W / 42.10611; -87.73778Coordinates: 42°6′22″N 87°44′16″W / 42.10611°N 87.73778°W / 42.10611; -87.73778 (42.106227, -87.73801).. Winnetka is located 198m (650ft) above sea level and has a magnetic declination of 3° 10' W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.9 square miles, of which 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km) (2.30%) is water.