For a lot of people, they can't dump their cable company if they piss them off, because that's the only option they have available.

I can too, and then not have cable. At least with the utility company, I can put up PV panels and live off grid.

as if electricity is the only utility, right?

Say goodbye to your occupancy permit, which will probably cause mortgage default.

You won't be kicked out of your house for canceling cable.

Most Americans can't dump their cable company.

In my area, the cable provider is the only one that offers somewhat fast speeds. Whenever they overcharge me and I spend hours sorting it out (this has happened a few times) with them I wish I could switch, but DSL is just not fast enough for working remotely.

I don't have other options for all my other utilities, but so far they have overcharged me and screwed things up royally exactly zero times.

The FCC just raised its minimum definition of broadband, so that DSL probably doesn't even qualify anymore. As if it should have before.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/01/fcc-chairman-mocks-i...

The cable company's Internet service may not either.

In many parts of America, electricity is partially deregulated and you can switch providers.

and how about water, sewage, gas?

Natural gas is deregulated in some places: http://www.ohionaturalgas.com/deregulation.html

Honestly though, large utilities are a good case of a "natural monopoly".

Sure you can- nothing stops you from installing your own power generation/water purification (assuming you own your home and don't have a Nazi township/HOA).