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.
Banquete is an unincorporated community in Nueces County, Texas, United States. Banquete is located at the intersection of State Highway 44 and FM 666, 23 miles west of Corpus Christi. Banquete should not be confused with Rancho Banquete, a census-designated place situated several miles west of the community.