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.
Taos Ski Valley is a village and alpine ski resort in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 56 at the 2000 census. Until March 19, 2008, it was one of four ski resorts in America to prohibit snowboarding; officials announced the change several months in advance. The climate, culture, and geography resemble a Swiss village, including an elected city council. The ski area, Taos Ski Valley, Inc. , was founded by Rhoda and Ernie Blake, and is still managed by the Blake family. It has a one to one ratio of expert to beginner/intermediate terrain, and has the highest rated ski school in North America.