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.
Carlton is a city in Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 810 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carlton County. Minnesota State Highways 45 and 210; and County Roads 1 and 3 are four of the main routes in the community. The Thomson Reservoir and Dam, and Jay Cooke State Park are nearby; and the Willard Munger Bicycle Trail runs through the city.