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.
Louisiana is a city in Pike County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,863 at the 2000 census. Louisiana is located in northeast Missouri, on the Mississippi River south of Hannibal. An ammonia plant here was converted to study and produce synthetic fuels. Louisiana is home to the Louisiana Country Colorfest.