Also referred to in some areas as the utility distribution company (UDC). The current electric utility company that continues to provide regulated services for distributing electricity to customers and to serve customers who do not choose direct access. Regardless of where a consumer chooses to purchase electricity, the LDC delivers it to the consumer's home, business, or farm. In the event of a power outage, consumers contact their LDC, which is responsible for reliability and maintenance of the lines and poles that connect the consumer's home or business to the transmission grid.