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.
Centerville is a village in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Located on the south side of Barnstable, Centerville is primarily residential, includes a small business district, notable beaches, and a school (Centerville Elementary). The Barnstable Bat Company is located in Centerville. Centerville contains the neighborhood of Craigville, which includes Craigville beach. Centerville village also is the home to the ECAC offices. (Eastern College Athletic Conference. Centerville was originally named Chequaquet . Centerville is the location of the award-winning, independent Four Seas Ice Cream shop which is located on South Main Street near the intersection with Old Stage Road. Located on Pine Street is the St. Francis Xavier cemetery, which is the final resting place for Eunice Kennedy Shriver.