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.
Downsville, New York is a hamlet and former village within the town of Colchester in Delaware County, New York. It is the site of the Downsville Bridge, a covered bridge and the historic Union Free School. Downsville is located on the East Branch of the Delaware River. A dam on this portion of the river, at Downsville, was completed by New York City in 1954, creating the Pepacton Reservoir, which is part of the New York City water supply system. Downsville Central School, located on Maple Avenue, serves families from the surrounding areas, including municipalities as far away as East Branch. Downsville Central School's colors are purple and white and their mascot is the Eagle.