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.
Cassville is a city in Flat Creek Township, Barry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,890 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Barry County. Crowder College offers 2 year degree programs in Cassville. The city was connected by rail via the Cassville & Exeter Railroad from July 4, 1896 to September 11, 1956.