Utility Service Providers include political subdivisions, organizations, quasi-governmental entities or businesses that provide utility service directly to end-user residential customers, including electric, natural gas, water, or wastewater service or a combination of those services, regardless whether they are investor-owned public utilities, are private companies, are member-owned cooperatives or are owned or operated by a political subdivision of the State or a quasi-governmental agency or other organizations, and include all local government utility providers that are subject to the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, codified in Article 3 of Chapter 159 of the North Carolina General Statutes.