public utility

noun

Definition of public utility

: 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

That energy would flow to a grid connected to Cleveland Public Power's system, the city’s public utility, which would deliver the electricity. — Mark Naymik, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County and Cleveland take steps toward microgrid while key player stays quiet," 10 June 2019 For public utilities, the setup is slightly different. — David Roberts, Vox, "Oregon is poised to set a cap on greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a huge deal.," 5 June 2019 Jeff Lyash took over as president and CEO of the nation’s largest public utility on Monday. — Jonathan Mattise, The Seattle Times, "New TVA head says board right on coal plant closures," 12 Apr. 2019 Elizabeth Warren wants to remake corporations into de facto public utilities. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "When Politicians Direct Capital," 31 Jan. 2019 The committee is discussing proposals aimed at easing the potential liability of the state’s public utilities for wildfires. — Alejandro Lazo, WSJ, "California Questions Its Growth as Its Largest Wildfire Burns," 8 Aug. 2018 Rolando Emmanuelli Jimenez, an attorney for Puerto Rico’s public utility union, said the proposal didn’t require enough sacrifice from Cofina bondholders given the territory’s shrinking tax base. — Andrew Scurria, WSJ, "Puerto Rico’s $18 Billion Bond Restructuring Nears Completion," 19 Jan. 2019 The park was leveled, and the grounds now hold office buildings for a public utility. — azcentral, "Iconic Arizona businesses that are closed," 4 Nov. 2014 Like trash cans on major thoroughfares, bike share was not a recreational pastime but a public utility. — Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "Let’s organize the city outside our front door with as much care as we do our homes," 30 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'public utility.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.