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.
Everson is a city in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,035 at the 2000 census. Everson and the nearby city of Nooksack lie near the foothills of the Cascade mountains in Northwest Washington. Located on the banks of the Nooksack River, the businesses support the surrounding farms and logging industries. The valley is heavily influenced by Dutch settlers who established dairy farms on the fertile flood prone land. Fruit orchards and berry fields also play an important part of the town's economy. The town's small business district provides all the basic services. There are restaurants, a pharmacy and groceries, auto-repair, and agricultural supply stores. The City Park is located a 1/2 block south off the W. Main St. and Riverside Park is on the banks of the Nooksack River featuring picnic tables and ball fields. Throughout the year, the area hosts small festivals in town or in the surrounding area, including a summer festival and harvest festival. Everson, Nooksack and Sumas are part of the Nooksack Valley School District. Nooksack Valley High School is in Everson.