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.
Skytop is an unincorporated community in Barrett Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located north of Mountainhome, it is accessible by local roads off Route 390. Its elevation is 1,562 feet (476 m), and it is located at 41°13′40″N 75°14′18″W / 41.22778°N 75.23833°W / 41.22778; -75.23833 (41.2278683, -75.2382360). Although Skytop is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 18357; the ZCTA for ZIP Code 18357 had a population of 87 at the 2000 census. The town is home to the historic Skytop Lodge, a historic 1920s retreat hotel.