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A '''public utility''' is a company that maintains the [[infrastructure]] for a [[public services|public service]] (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities often involve [[natural monopoly|natural monopolies]], and as a result are often government monopolies, or if privately owned, treated as specially [[regulation|regulated]] sectors.
Public utilities can be [[private company|privately owned]] or [[public company|publicly owned]]. Publicly owned utilities include cooperative and municipal utilities. [[Municipal]] utilities may actually include territories outside of city limits or may not even serve the entire city. [[Utility cooperative|Cooperative utilities]] are owned by the customers they serve. They are usually found in [[rural]] areas. Private utilities, also called investor owned utilities, are owned by [[investment|investors]]. Unlike public companies, private utilities may be listed on the [[stock exchange]]. Private, in this context, means not owned by the [[public]] or the [[government]].
Public utilities can be [[private company|privately owned]] or [[public company|publicly owned]]. Publicly owned utilities include cooperative and municipal utilities. [[Municipal]] utilities may actually include territories outside of city limits or may not even serve the entire city. [[Utility cooperative|Cooperative utilities]] are owned by the customers they serve. They are usually found in [[rural]] areas. Private utilities, also called investor owned utilities, are owned by [[investment|investors]]. Unlike public companies, private utilities may be listed on the [[stock exchange]]. Private, in this context, means not owned by the [[public]] or the [[government]].