# municipal utilities

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607 "2000-06-26T19:16:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/1 "2000-06-26T19:16:12Z")

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Why are the city dept. of water and power, always one in the same? Why not two separate dept’s, two separate bills?

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/2 "2000-06-26T19:29:04Z")

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In my city, they are two seaprate utilities. Not only that, but because my town has grown beyond the original power grid, they don’t serve the same customers.

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**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/3 "2000-06-26T22:06:33Z")

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It’s separate here, too. In fact, different entities (city, county, private concern that receives state money, town incorporated within city) provide me with water, sewer, electricity, and garbage and recycling service, respectively. I actually would prefer to consolidate some of these bills.

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**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/4 "2000-06-26T22:20:18Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> It’s separate here, too. In fact, different entities (city, county, private concern that receives state money, town incorporated within city) provide me with water, sewer, electricity, and garbage and recycling service, respectively. I actually would prefer to consolidate some of these bills.  
> \*\*

Well, I just know that MY town does this, combine water & electric into one. I wasn’t sure if was that way elsewhere.

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**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/5 "2000-06-27T02:38:32Z")

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Thank god they’re separate. I’ve been looknig in my yard for months, and I just can’t find the electricity well.

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2000, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/municipal-utilities/23607/6 "2000-06-27T07:55:59Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*  
> Thank god they’re separate. I’ve been looknig in my yard for months, and I just can’t find the electricity well.  
> \*\*

Is that the same as a heat sink?

Oh, hey, look at the time, well I must be going now. Very quickly…