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.
The village of Wilcox is located in Elk County, Pennsylvania within the Saint Marys metropolitan area. The community was named after a settler, Col. A.I. Wilcox. The year 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the settling of this village. The quality of life here combines modern conveniences with traditional values. Wilcox is located in Jones Township which is home of the Allegheny Mountains, and the East Branch Lake. Over 250,000 visitors a year come to Wilcox to enjoy the natural foresting, fishing, hunting, and three state and national parks.