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.
Perham is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,559 at the 2000 census. The town hosts The Gathering (show), described as the "world's largest fish decoy show. " The annual event will be in its 13th year when it is held April 17th and 18th of 2010.