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.
Valley Falls is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 1,254 at the 2000 census. Originally named Grasshopper Falls, The city is located in Delaware Township. It is governed by a mayor/council form of government. There are five council members. The day-to-day business of the city is conducted by the city administrator, and a part-time city clerk, paid employees of the city. Valley Falls is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.