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public utility
noun
: a business organization (such as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation
Examples of public utility in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those most recent rate increases were reviewed and approved by Newsom appointees at the state public utilities commission.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
What’s at stake: The influential Corporation Commission regulates public utilities, oil, gas and other energy sources, commercial transportation and petroleum storage tanks.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
Nearly two million Americans have tap water that contains more than twice the amount of fluoride thought to be safe by the U.S. government, 0.7 mg/L.
Experts say contacting your local water utility company or public utilities office is the best way to know how much fluoride is in your water.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 23 Oct. 2024
In addition, the recent DARPA AI Cyber Challenge showed that developers could create new generative AI systems to safeguard critical software that undergirds everything from financial systems and hospitals to public utilities.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1895, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near public utility
Cite this Entry
“Public utility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20utility. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
public utility
noun
: a business organization performing a public service and subject to special governmental regulation
Legal Definition
public utility
noun
: a business organization (as an electric company) performing a public service and subject to special government regulation
More from Merriam-Webster on public utility
Nglish: Translation of public utility for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public utility
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