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.
Rowe is an unincorporated community in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. It is located along Interstate 25 near the Pecos National Historical Park, at an elevation of 6,821 feet. Rowe is served by the Native American Preparatory School. Rowe was established for the purpose of providing labor for the Santa Fe Railroad in the late 1870's or early 1880's. The majority of the population came from Las Ruedas approximately 2 miles away on the Pecos River. A pipeline to provide water for steam engines was laid between Rowe and the now diminishing village of Las Ruedas.