Electric Utilities and Regulation

Electric utilities are the companies and public agencies that sell and deliver electricity, and their regulation is the government oversight of how they operate. State public utility commissions usually set the rates and rules for customers, while federal agencies oversee power sold across state lines. Local governments also run some utilities.

People usually ask how utility rates are set, who approves a rate change, and why a bill goes up or down. They also ask what rights customers have, how public and private utilities differ, how regulators weigh costs against reliability, and where to take a complaint about service or billing.