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.
Saunderstown is a small village and historic district in the town of North Kingstown in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. Saunderstown is known as the birthplace of the artist Gilbert Stuart, who is best known for painting the portrait of George Washington that is portrayed on the one-dollar bill. The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, which consists of the house in which Stuart was born, a nature trail, and a functional gristmill, is now open to the public as a museum. Saunderstown is also the location of Casey Farm, an 18th century plantation that is now a family farm. The farm grows organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a Community Agriculture Program. It is operated by Historic New England. Saunderstown's postal code is 02874.