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.
Rio Medina, is an unincorporated town in Medina County, Texas, United States. It is located approximately five miles north of Castroville and is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2006-07 Texas Almanac, it had a population of 60 people in 2000. According to an online community profile, Rio Medina has a population of 541 people (population year not provided). The town is located on the Medina River and is several miles south of Medina Lake. Rio Medina has a post office located on highway FM 471. Rio Medina is home to the "Rio Medina Store" founded by Alex Boehme. It is a very small store where business hours are unpredictable and service is always provided with a smile and some small talk. Rio Medina's most popular business is the Texas Spirits Saloon, and across the street there is Mumme's, where local farmers sell grain and buy animal feed.