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.
Manning is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Oregon, United States on the Sunset Highway. Manning was named for Martin Manning, who took up a land claim there in 1865. Manning post office was established in 1890. The Banks–Vernonia State Trail, a rail trail conversion, passes through Manning.