A public utility is an entity that provides the general public with essential goods and services such as electricity, natural gas, energy, water, sewer, heat, telecommunications (telephone, fiber optic or broadband internet), railroad, and rail transit.

Public utilities (goods and services) are often provided by a public utility corporation that is essentially given a monopoly over the provision of the good or service in a certain geographic area—and exemption from antitrust and unfair competition laws—in exchange for certain governmental restrictions and regulations. Public utility companies are often regulated by a governmental Public Utility Commission (PUC).

The laws and rules that govern public utilities are usually located in state or federal statutes—depending on whether the utility is regulated by the state or federal government. For example, many states have a public utilities code—sometimes called a public utility regulatory act—or provide for public utility corporations and their regulation in the state administrative code. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is one example of a PUC at the federal level.

In Delaware, public utilities are regulated entities that provide essential services such as electricity, water, and telecommunications to the public. These utilities are typically granted a monopoly within a certain geographic area in exchange for adhering to government regulations and oversight. The regulatory body in Delaware responsible for overseeing public utilities is the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC ensures that utilities provide safe, reliable service at reasonable rates while maintaining the public interest. The Commission also has the authority to hear complaints, conduct investigations, and enforce regulations. State statutes and regulations pertaining to public utilities can be found in the Delaware Code, particularly under Title 26 which deals with public utilities. Additionally, utilities that engage in interstate commerce or that are not exclusively regulated by the state may also be subject to federal regulations by agencies such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).