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.
Preston is a small unincorporated exurban community located 22 miles (35 km) east of Seattle in King County, Washington, United States. The community was named after railway official William T. Preston. Preston is a historic mill town on the northeast edge of the large Tiger Mountain State Forest, along Interstate 90. Because Preston, elevation 430 ft, is located within commuting distance of Seattle and Bellevue, Preston is increasingly becoming a wealthy bedroom community, although logging still remains an important industry. The local Raging River feeds into the Snoqualmie River at Fall City, and offers recreational activities like fly-fishing and swimming. Eastside Fire & Rescue has an all-volunteer fire station, Station 74, staffed by residents of Preston and nearby communities, which serves the Preston area. The Preston Community Club is a volunteer organization that was created to unite and protect the historic Preston community by organizing town events, and acting as liaisons to local and state government. Several small stores have popped up as the area grows, such as the Preston General store, Sherm's BBQ, Coffee Too!, and formerly, the town's post office. Several larger companies have taken advantage of Preston's accessibility, such as bottled water company Talking Rain, SanMar, and Platt.