(a) For the following public carriers, a state compensating tax of three percent (3%) of the gross purchase price is levied on the tangible personal property of:

(1) Motor carriers, consisting of tractors, trailers, semitrailers, trucks, buses, and other rolling stock, including replacement tires, used directly in the transportation of persons or property in intrastate or interstate common carrier transportation;

(2) Railroads, except fuel consumed in the operation of railroad rolling stock;

(3) Pipelines, consisting of transmission lines and pumping or pressure control equipment used directly in or connected to the primary pipeline facility engaged in intrastate or interstate common carrier transportation of property; and

(4) Airlines, consisting of airplanes and navigation instruments used directly in or becoming a part of flight aircraft engaged in transportation of persons or property in regular scheduled intrastate or interstate common carrier transportation.

(b) For public telephone and telegraph companies, a state compensating tax of three percent (3%) of the gross purchase price is levied on tangible personal property consisting of exchange equipment, lines, boards, and all accessory devices used directly in and connected to the primary facility engaged in transmission of messages.

(c) For the following public utilities, a state compensating tax of three percent (3%) of the gross purchase price is levied on the tangible personal property of:

(1) Gas companies, consisting of transmission and distribution pipelines and pumping or pressure control equipment used in connection with transmission and distribution pipelines that are used directly in the primary pipeline facility for the purpose of transporting and delivering natural gas;

(2) Water companies, consisting of transmission and distribution lines, pumping machinery and controls used in connection with transmission and distribution lines, and cleaning or treating equipment of a primary water distribution system; and

(3) Public electric power companies, consisting of all machinery and equipment, including reactor cores, related accessory devices used in the generation and production of electric power and energy, and transmission facilities consisting of the lines, including poles, towers, and other supporting structures, transmitting electric power and energy with substations located on and attached to the lines.