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.
New Richland is a city in Waseca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. Located in rural south-central Minnesota, New Richland is a small town with a strong agricultural base. Town life centers around its school, New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School (NRHEG) and its various extra curricular activities. In 1976 and 1978 the then, New Richland-Hartland Cardinal football team won the State Championship and in 1999 the NRHEG Wrestling Team took 2nd in the state team tournament. In 2003, 2004, and 2005 wrestling team traveled to the state tournament in St. Paul in which they earned participation rights, 4th place, and consolation champs respectively. There have also been many high state awards earned in individual activities including speech, track & field and wrestling.