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.
Thompson Ridge, New York is a hamlet in the Town of Crawford, part of Orange County, New York, USA. It has the ZIP Code 10985, and is located along NY 302 south of Pine Bush, Crawford's main population center. It takes its name from the Thompson family, early settlers of the region. The houses of Alexander, Andrew and Robert Thompson still stand along 302. As its name suggests, much of Thompson Ridge is elevated, providing sweeping views of the Shawangunk Ridge over the valley of the Shawangunk Kill. A small downtown section, with the post office, is along Thompson Ridge Road just east of its junction with 302.