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 Kentucky, 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 primary regulatory body at the state level is the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC), which is responsible for ensuring that public utilities provide adequate services at fair, just, and reasonable rates. The PSC also handles consumer complaints, regulates utility rates, and oversees the issuance of certificates for new utility services and construction. For utilities that cross state lines or are otherwise subject to federal jurisdiction, such as interstate pipelines or electric transmission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) serves as the regulatory authority. Kentucky's public utility regulations are codified in the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) and the Kentucky Administrative Regulations (KAR), which outline the powers and duties of the PSC, as well as the operational and reporting requirements for public utilities operating within the state.