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.
Saddlestring is an unincorporated community in northwestern Johnson County, Wyoming, United States, on the eastern edge of the Bighorn National Forest. It lies along local roads northwest of the city of Buffalo, the county seat of Johnson County. Its elevation is 5,440 feet (1,658 m), and it is located at 44°27′18″N 106°53′50″W / 44.455°N 106.89722°W / 44.455; -106.89722 (44.4549714, -106.8972790). Saddlestring possessed its own post office from 1946 to 1965, and from 1967 to 1999; although the post office is now closed, Saddlestring retains its old ZIP Code of 82840. The post office building still exists; located on the HF Bar Ranch, it is a contributing property to a historic district located on the ranch. Public education in the community of Saddlestring is provided by Johnson County School District #1.