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.
Hanover is a city in Hennepin and Wright counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 1,355 at the 2000 census. Most of Hanover lies in Wright County; only a small part of the city extends into Hennepin County. Even though Hanover is partly in the metropolitan county of Hennepin, it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Twin Cities' Metropolitan Council. Despite being a small city, Hanover has three progressive restaurant establishments which include ChopsBar. com, the Hilltop Bar, and the River Inn. They offer many options for the locals and visitors to Hanover.