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.
Pattonville is an unincorporated community in Lamar County, Texas, United States. It lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 271 and Texas Farm to Market Road 196, approximately 10 miles southeast of Paris. The Prairiland Independent School District serves area students; the main campus (featuring the junior high, high school, administration building, and athletic fields) is located in Pattonville.