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.
Fence Lake is an unincorporated town located in south western Cibola County, New Mexico. It is largely ranchland, and there are few businesses there. According to local residents, the name was derived from the original settlers having to fence off a pond formed in a natural depression that was in the area, to keep animals from contaminating the water source. Image:Fence Lake Monument. jpg|In front of the old school building Image:Settler's monument inscription. jpg|Fine words by local talent