When any municipality decides to establish a plant and any corporation incorporated by the General Assembly for the purpose of furnishing gas or electric light, heat or power is, at the time of the first vote required for such decision, engaged in the business of making, generating or distributing gas or electricity, for sale for lighting purposes to consumers in such municipality, such municipality shall, if such corporation elects to sell and comply with the provisions of this chapter, before establishing its plant, purchase of such corporation such portion of its gas plant and property suitable and used for such business or in connection therewith, if the municipality has decided to establish a gas plant, or of its plant for electric lighting, and property suitable and used for such business or in connection therewith, if such municipality has decided to establish an electric lighting plant, as has, at the time of the first vote, been in use in or acquired for such business in such municipality. If, in any such municipality, a single corporation owns or operates both a gas plant and an electric plant, such purchase shall include both of such plants. For the purposes of this chapter, such municipality may purchase such gas plant or electric plant or both, whether the same is located within or without the limits of such municipality, provided such plant is being used for the purpose of making, generating or distributing gas or electricity for sale for lighting purposes in such municipality.

(1949 Rev., S. 721.)