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 Idaho, public utilities are regulated entities that provide essential services such as electricity, natural gas, 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 Idaho Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) is the state agency responsible for regulating the utilities within Idaho, ensuring that the services provided are safe, reliable, and offered at reasonable rates. The IPUC oversees rate-setting, service quality, and other operational aspects of public utilities. The regulation of utilities at the federal level, such as interstate electricity transmission and natural gas pipelines, falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). State statutes and administrative codes, including those specific to public utilities, outline the regulatory framework within which these utilities operate. In Idaho, relevant laws can be found in the Idaho Code, which details the powers and duties of the IPUC and the regulatory requirements for public utilities.