a business enterprise, as a public-service corporation, performing an essential public service and regulated by the federal, state, or local government.
Usually, public utilities. stocks or bonds of public-utility companies, excluding railroads.
Origin
1900-05
Related forms
public-utility, adjective
Examples from the web for public utility
But the electricity does not come from public utility lines.
Imagine yourself, for example, in the plight of a well-intentioned manager of a public utility.
Another difficulty was to overcome the prejudice against running a public utility as a business.
Electric power prices would still come under the eyes of public utility commissions.
British Dictionary definitions for public utility
public utility
noun
1.
an enterprise concerned with the provision to the public of essentials, such as electricity or water Also called (US) public-service corporation
public utility in Culture
public utility definition
A private company supplying water, gas, electricity, telephone service, or the like, which is granted a monopoly by the government and then regulated by the government.