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.
Montvale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 7,034. Montvale was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894, from portions of both Orvil Township and Washington Township, at the height of the Boroughitis craze then sweeping through Bergen County that led to the creation of over two dozen new municipalities in the county in that one year alone. On February 15, 1896, Montvale acquired part of Orvil Township. In 1906, Montvale added further land from both Orvil and Washington Townships, and in 1912, Montvale added territory from Upper Saddle River. On May 20, 1959, portions of Montvale were passed to River Vale, and on December 9 and December 14, 1965, territories were exchanged between Montvale and Upper Saddle River.