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.
Girard is a city in Crawford Township, Crawford County, Kansas, United States (PLSS description = T29S,R23E,sec24 and sec13 from the Sixth Principal Meridian). The population was 2,773 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Crawford County. This city is located on a gently undulating prairie at the center of the county. It is regularly laid out, has a public square in the center. Its elevation is 988 feet above the sea.