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.
Rowena is an unincorporated community in southwestern Runnels County, Texas, United States. Paul J. Baron designed the town in 1898. It was the birthplace of Bonnie Parker. According to the US Census, the population was estimated at 483 in 2000, an increase of three percent from 1990's 466 Rowenans. The United States Postal Service now estimates population at 714. Elevation is 1,628 feet above sea level.