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.
Manchaca is a small unincorporated community in Travis County, Texas, United States. Located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of downtown Austin, Manchaca's heart contains Menchaca Elementary school, many privately owned businesses, and the Manchaca Firehall. The firehall is a popular local restaurant and meeting place and is also in front of the Manchaca Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) Station 1. Youth can play Little League and PONY league baseball at the Manchaca Youth Optimist Club, with baseball facilities just west of the town, near the Marbridge Ranch home for the mentally disabled.