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.
Swisshome is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Siuslaw River northeast of Mapleton, on Oregon Route 36. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the community was named for a Swiss family in the area, the Zweidlers. Swisshome post office was established in 1902. The Coos Bay branch of the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad passes through Swisshome. The Deadwood Creek Bridge and the Wildcat Creek Bridge near Swisshome are two covered bridges that are on the National Register of Historic Places.