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.
Riviera is an unincorporated community in Kleberg County, Texas, United States. Riviera is located about 11 miles (18 km) south of Kingsville on U.S. Highway 77 and about 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Falfurrias on Texas State Highway 285.