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.
Ulen is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, along the South Branch of the Wild Rice River. The population was 532 at the 2000 census. Near this small community, what is believed to be an authentic Viking sword was found in a field. The sword is currently on display in a museum. See Ulen sword for more detailed information.