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.
Natchez is a village in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 583 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Natchitoches Micropolitan Statistical Area. It includes St. Augustine Parish (Isle Brevelle) Church. Church services were established in 1803 by Augustin Métoyer and have been held continuously since then. It is the oldest church in the US founded by and for the mixed Creole people. The church was built by sons of Métoyer and Marie Thérèse Coin-coin. Because of the significance of the Créole church's history and its centrality in the life of the community, it is featured on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. The village and parish are part of the Cane River National Heritage Area. Natchez is the birthplace of the late Sylvan Friedman, who served on the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury from 1932-1944, as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1944-1952, and as a state senator from 1952-1972.