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.
High Ridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,598 in the 2007 estimated census. It was 4,236 at the 2000 census. At 927 feet (283 m) above sea level, High Ridge is the second highest point in Missouri. It is also home to Olympic triathlete Sarah Haskins, who competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.