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.
Shady Spring is a census-designated place (CDP) in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,078 at the 2000 census. It is a family oriented community, with a very low crime rate. Shady Spring is an area of development for new housing communities. It is close to the Resort at Glade Springs, Flat Top Lake, Winterplace Ski Resort, and the city of Beckley. Due to its growing size, the county school board upgraded its middle and high schools to deal with the increased student volume.