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 West Virginia, public utilities such as electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunications are regulated entities that provide essential services 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 West Virginia responsible for overseeing public utilities is the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC). The PSC ensures that utilities provide their services at reasonable rates, maintain adequate facilities and services, and adhere to operational standards. The commission also handles consumer complaints and regulates utility rates. State statutes and administrative codes provide the legal framework for the regulation of public utilities in West Virginia, while federal utilities such as interstate pipelines or electric transmission may fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The specific laws governing public utilities in West Virginia can be found in the West Virginia Code, particularly in chapters that pertain to public service utilities.