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.
Haviland is a city in Kiowa County, Kansas, United States. The population was 612 at the 2000 census. It is home to Barclay College. Haviland is known for meteorite finds connected to the Haviland Crater and for an annual meteorite festival held in July. The festival includes food, contests, treasure hunts, corn pits, raffles, meteorite digs, concerts, and star-gazing.