The Collaborative International Dictionary
Public-service corporation
Public-service corporation \Public-service corporation\ or sometimes Quasi-public corporation \Quasi-public corporation\ A corporation, such as a railroad company, lighting company, water company, etc., organized or chartered to follow a public calling or to render services more or less essential to the general public convenience or safety.
WordNet
public-service corporation
n. a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation [syn: utility, public utility]