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.
Waite is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 105 at the 2000 census. Waite is a small community served by one combination general store and US Post Office. The town is also home to two logging contractors. Waite shares its zip code, 04492, with the neighboring town of Talmadge.