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.
Bothell is a city located in King and Snohomish Counties in the state of Washington. The population was 30,150 at the time of the 2000 census. Prior to annexation and the 2000 census, the northern portions of Bothell which lie in Snohomish County were considered a part of the Alderwood Manor-Bothell North census-designated place.