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.
Sauquoit is a hamlet in the Town of Paris, Oneida County, New York, USA. It is located on New York Route 8, approximately 6 miles south of Utica and east of Paris village. It straddles Sauquoit Creek, a small Mohawk River tributary, and nestles in the Sauquoit Valley. Sauquoit is the birthplace of Asa Gray, world famous botanist, Michael O'Donoghue, humor writer and performer, Nick Madden, and also of Arthur Cushman McGiffert, theologian. It is also said that George Washington granted land to one of his soldiers during the Revolutionary War where Orchard Hall is now standing. The local high school is Sauquoit Valley Central School. Sauquoit Valley Central School is home to several cross-country state championships, including a stretch of 3 boys titles in 4 years from 2001 to 2004. The girls soccer team has also had recent success, with a run to the Class C state championship game in 2009. In 2010, the boys volleyball team won the sectional and regional titles, both firsts for the program. Lastly, the girls track team has won three consecutive sectional titles. Local businesses include Orchard Hall, and Grande's Pizzeria & Catering. The district was improved when the Chadwicks School District merged.