Editing Public utility (section)

{{Short description|Entity which operates public service infrastructure}}
{{Redirect|Utilities||Utility (disambiguation)}}
{{Globalize|2=USA|2name=the United States|3=United Kingdom|4=Ireland|date=April 2016}}
{{Public Infrastructure}}

A '''public utility company''' (usually just '''utility''') is an organization that maintains the [[infrastructure]] for a [[public service]] (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities are subject to forms of [[State ownership|public control]] and [[regulation]] ranging from local community-based groups to statewide [[state monopoly|government monopolies]].

Public utilities are meant to supply goods and services that are considered essential; [[water industry|water]], [[gas industry|gas]], [[Electric utility|electricity]], [[Telephone company|telephone]], [[waste management industry|waste disposal]], and other [[Communications system|communication systems]] represent much of the public utility market. The transmission lines used in the transportation of [[electricity]], or natural [[Pipeline transport|gas pipelines]], have natural [[monopoly]] characteristics. A monopoly can occur when it finds the best way to minimize its costs through economies of scale to the point where other companies cannot compete with it.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=What is a public utility? Definition and meaning |url=https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/public-utility-definition-meaning/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Market Business News |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, if many companies are already offering electricity, the additional installation of a power plant will only disadvantage the consumer as prices could be increased. If the infrastructure already exists in a given area, minimal benefit is gained through competing. In other words, these [[Industry City|industries]] are characterized by ''[[economies of scale]]'' in production.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Public Utility {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/public-utility|access-date=2021-04-27|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> Though it can be mentioned that these natural monopolies are handled or watched by a public utilities commission, or an institution that represents the government.<ref name=":3" />

There are many different types of public utilities. Some, especially large [[Company|companies]], offer multiple products, such as electricity and natural gas. Other companies specialize in one specific product, such as water. Modern public utilities may also be partially (or completely) sourced from clean and [[renewable energy]] in order to produce sustainable electricity. Of these, [[wind turbine]]s and [[solar panel]]s are those used most frequently.

Whether broadband internet access should be a public utility is a question that was being discussed with the rise of internet usage. This is a question that was being asked due to the telephone service being considered a public utility. Since arguably broadband internet access has taken over telephone service, perhaps it should be a public utility. [[Federal Communications Commission|The Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in the United States in 2015 made their stance on this issue clear.<ref name=":3" /> Due to the telephone service having been considered a public utility, the FCC made broadband internet access a public utility in the United States.<ref name=":3" />