Utilities shouldn't need advertising in theory, but utilities don't behave well (economically speaking) in general. There is to much regulation (limiting upside from selling their services means squeezing money out of less ethical verticals) or there are monopolistic incentives (you don't have a choice, so we can make you give us ad revenue)
Where is there too much regulation of utilities? Particularly considering the issue with PG&E, it seems unlikely this would be the case in the US; the money in the US is being squeezed toward bonuses and the like.
