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.
Tie Siding is a tiny unincorporated community in far southeastern Albany County, Wyoming, United States, approximately eight miles north of the Colorado border. It was strategically located to service the expansion of railroad systems in the West from the late 1860's to early 1900's. Tie Siding interacted with such nearby communities as Virginia Dale, LaPorte and Pingree Park. At an elevation of 7,694 ft. and located at latitude 41.080N and longitude -105.506W, Tie Siding consists today of only a combination U.S. Post Office/Flea Market.