public utilities
Government-regulated essential services
Public utilities are essential services—electricity, water, natural gas, sewage—provided to the general population, typically by companies operating under government regulation.
Because these services require extensive infrastructure and function as natural monopolies, they're subject to rate controls and service standards: The public utilities commission approved a rate increase.
The term often appears in discussions of pricing, regulation, or infrastructure investment.
Principal urban pipe
- meterDevice that measures usage
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- potableSafe for ingestion
hydrant · service line · pressure · chlorination · fluoridation · billing · shortage · rationing
Subterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- meterDevice that measures usage
- heatingRaising temperature artificially
- furnaceEnclosed heat-producing structure
boiler · gas leak · thermostat · pilot light · shutoff valve · distribution network · gas main · propane
Linked transmission system
- kilowatt-hourUnit measuring electrical consumption
- meterDevice that measures usage
- blackoutComplete power loss
- outageLoss of electrical service
transformer · substation · transmission · distribution · voltage · circuit · brownout · load shedding
Framework of intersecting lines
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- maintenancePreserving working condition
- aging infrastructureWorn public systems needing repair
capital improvement · right-of-way · easement · excavation · network · reliability · resilience · redundancy
Tax on traded goods
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
- rate of returnInvestment profit percentage
regulatory approval · consumer protection · universal service · affordability · subsidy · complaint · hearing · oversight
Charging for services rendered
- customer serviceAssistance for buyers
- accountRecord of dealings
- meter readingRecording utility consumption data
- service callScheduled repair appointment
installation · disconnection · reconnection · deposit · payment plan · arrears · late fee · emergency response
water main
Principal urban pipe
- meterDevice that measures usage
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- distributionAllocation across recipients
potable · hydrant · service line · pressure · chlorination · fluoridation · billing · shortage · rationing · boil advisory
natural gas
Subterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- meterDevice that measures usage
- heatingRaising temperature artificially
furnace · boiler · gas leak · thermostat · pilot light · shutoff valve · distribution network · gas main · propane · combustion
power grid
Linked transmission system
- kilowatt-hourUnit measuring electrical consumption
- meterDevice that measures usage
- blackoutComplete power loss
outage · transformer · substation · transmission · distribution · voltage · circuit · brownout · load shedding · peak demand
grid
Framework of intersecting lines
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- maintenancePreserving working condition
aging infrastructure · capital improvement · right-of-way · easement · excavation · network · reliability · resilience · redundancy · capacity
tariff
Tax on traded goods
- franchiseLicensed business operation
- monopolyOne seller, no substitutes
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
rate of return · regulatory approval · consumer protection · universal service · affordability · subsidy · complaint · hearing · oversight · accountability
billing
Charging for services rendered
- customer serviceAssistance for buyers
- accountRecord of dealings
- meter readingRecording utility consumption data
service call · installation · disconnection · reconnection · deposit · payment plan · arrears · late fee · emergency response · call center
- public bodiesfederal agencies, state agencies, regulatory bodies, chambers, bar associations
- telecommunicationscell phone, cellphone, signals, cellular network, telephone calls
- public propertystate property, federal land, federal lands, state land, federal property
- public servicespolice, police department, police station, police stations, police patrols
- utilitieselectricity, water supply, water line, gas service, gas
- water supplydrinking water, potable water, tap water, municipal water, water tanks
public utilitiesluxury goods
Costly non-essential purchases
competitive markets · entertainment industry · fashion industry
public, utility, publicly, utilize, utilities, utilitarian, municipality, utilized, utilizing