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.
Marlette is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2006 US Census population estimate was 2,053. The city is located within Marlette Township, but is politically autonomous. Marlette is known as "The Heart of the Thumb" due to its location in Michigan. It is a small community with a golf course, public pool, and a municipal airport. Crops grown here include corn, beans and sugar beets. Marlette is a closely knit rural community, an hour drive will take you to several urban centers such as Saginaw, Bay City, Flint and Port Huron. It is considered a part of the Flint/Tri-Cities region.