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.
Altmar is a village in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 351 at the 2000 census. The Village of Altmar (formerly "Sand Bank") is in northern part of the Town of Albion at State Route 13 and County Route 22. Altmar is the seat of the town government.