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.
Avon is a town in Washington Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,248 at the 2000 census. The 2005 Indiana Population Estimate Update estimated the population as 8,918. Avon was incorporated in 1995. Previous town names included Hampton, White Lick, Smootsdale and New Philadelphia. The name Avon was placed on a sign by the railroad company.