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.
Winona is a town in Smith County, Texas, United States. The population was 582 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Tyler, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was founded in 1870. In May 2009, a referendum to make the town go "Wet" failed with a 94 FOR and 94 AGAINST tie, which was a fail by Texas law. On November 3rd 2009, after a revote being called with the result of 124 FOR and 106 AGAINST, Winona is the first city in Smith County to go wet, allowing Beer, Wine, and Liquor since 1939.