A public utility is an entity that provides goods or services to the general public. Utilities may include both common network operators and undertakings providing electricity, gas, water, heat and television cable systems. In some contexts, the term “public good” may be defined as covering only private entities offering such goods or services. For example, in defining the regulatory scope of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Congress excludes “government entities such as cities, counties, local irrigation districts, and state and federal agencies.” Instead, FERC has primary authority over “primarily private companies, commonly referred to as `investor-owned utilities` or `regulated utilities.` Public services are regulated by utility commissions operating at different levels of responsibility. Public utilities may grant certain monopoly rights to utilities in order to facilitate the operation of a specific geographical area with a single system. In California, for example, prohibitions on anti-competitive conduct under the Unfair Practices Act do not apply to utilities. Instead, private utilities in areas such as electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, water, rail, rail, rail, and passenger transportation are regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission to “ensure Californians have access to safe and reliable public infrastructure and services.” The process for determining whether a company is a utility varies by jurisdiction. In Ohio, the term “public utility” is not broadly defined in the Ohio Constitution, and the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that definitions developed in some statutes are not applicable to other contexts. Instead, Ohio courts use case law to identify the general characteristics of utilities and examine each company`s practices in light of the general requirements set out in the case law. The Ohio courts have found a requirement for the “public service” in which several factors must be weighed. First, the company should provide “an essential good or service to the public who have a legal right to demand or obtain that good or service.” Then, the company must provide that good or service “generally and indiscriminately”. Finally, the company must be “obliged to provide the good or service that cannot be withdrawn arbitrarily or unreasonably”. In addition to the “public service” requirement, an Ohio utility must “conduct its operations in a manner in the public interest.” 1.
Business. Company that owns and operates facilities for the production and distribution of water, electricity and gas, telecommunications to the public. 2. Informatics. A program whose function is to maintain the efficiency of the system. Also known as utility.3. Economy. Value for money and pleasure resulting from the consumption of services and goods. 4. Ethics.
Jeremy Bentham declared that the English reformer and philosopher “increases or decreases the happiness of the party whose interest is in question”. Supported by Black`s Law Dictionary, Free 2nd ed., and The Law Dictionary.