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.
Kemah is a city in Galveston County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,330 at the 2000 census. Kemah's main industry comes from shipping. Originally a small fishing town, Kemah has become a popular tourist destination. Many locals from the Houston Metropolitan Area travel to the city to visit the many restaurants and attractions, which are contained within the Kemah Entertainment District.