About the Division of Public Utilities

The Division of Public Utilities, makes recommendations to the Utah Public Service Commission for rate-making purposes, applications, hearings and other issues affecting quality of service. The Division also handles and investigates consumer complaints and monitors utility operations to ensure compliance with Public Service Commission rules, regulations and orders. For a more comprehensive review of the Division of Public Utilities duties, please see Title 54_04a of the Utah Code .

The Division of Public Utilities is separated into 5 sections:

• Energy: helps the Public Service Commission regulate electric and natural gas utilities that provide service in Utah.
• Telecommunications: aids the Public Service Commission in regulating local telephone companies in Utah.
• Water: monitors and regulates numerous private water companies in Utah
• Pipeline Safety: implements and enforces safety standards for all natural gas pipeline transmission and distribution facilities as well as master meter installations and new pipeline construction within Utah to ensure compliance with the Federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and Public Service Commission Rules.
• Customer Service: handles inquires and complaints from all of the above mentioned utilities regarding services rendered.

The Utah Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over investor owned and cooperative owned public utilities.Utah Code 54 � 2 defines a public utility to include "every railroad corporation, gas corporation, electrical corporation, distribution electrical cooperative, wholesale electrical cooperative, telephone corporation, telegraph corporation, water corporation, sewerage corporation, heat corporation, and independent energy producer not described . . . where the service is performed for, or the commodity delivered to, the public generally." The term corporation "does not include towns, cities, counties, conservancy districts, improvement districts, or other governmental units created or organized under any general or special law of this state." The Commission is also responsible for the safety regulation of intrastate natural gas pipelines. This includes pipelines owned by regulated utilities, municipal gas systems, small gas operators (master meter systems), and liquid propane gas systems. In general, the following ARE regulated by the Public Service Commission:

• Electric Power Utilities
• Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier List (ILEC)
• Natural Gas Utilities
• Water & Sewer Utilities
• Railroads
• Safety of intrastate natural gas pipelines

The following are NOT regulated by the Utah Public Service Commission but may be regulated by federal or local agencies:

• Interstate Long Distance Telephone Carries (Except for Slamming Issues)
• Municipal and Improvement District Utility Companies (Utilities owned by Local Governments)
• Cable Television
• Wireless Phone Service (Cell Phones)
• Cable and Wireless Internet Connected Services
• Internet Service Providers (ISP)
• Broadband and Satellite Services
• DSL (Except for Service Quality issues)
• Voice Over Internet Protocol Services (VoIP)
• Fuel Oil, Propane, or Gasoline
• Contracts Between Parties