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.
Catlett is a small, unincorporated community in Fauquier County, Virginia. It is located west of the Prince William County line. Catlett was a former rail stop on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The area was the site of many raids on the rail road during the American Civil War. Today, it is a small town community.