The North Carolina Utilities Commission is an independent agency of North Carolina administratively housed within the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The North Carolina Department of Commerce is the state's lead agency for economic, community and workforce development activities designed to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians. The Commission was created by the General Assembly to regulate the rates and services of all investor-owned public utilities in North Carolina, including electric companies, natural gas distribution companies, water and wastewater companies, telephone companies, carriers of household goods, and other companies engaged in providing miscellaneous utility services. It is the Com