Sec. 18. A surviving corporation or successor corporation formed under this chapter may perform any acts necessary or convenient for carrying out the purpose for which the surviving corporation or successor corporation was formed, including the following:

(1) To sue and be sued.

(2) To have a seal and alter the seal as the board considers appropriate.

(3) To acquire, hold, and dispose of property, real and personal, tangible and intangible, or any interest in property, and to pay for the property or interest in property in cash or on credit, and to secure and procure payment of all or any part of the purchase price on the terms and conditions that the board determines appropriate.

(4) To acquire, own, exchange, operate, maintain, and improve a system or systems for the delivery of retail electric service or communications service.

(5) To borrow money and otherwise contract indebtedness, and to issue or guarantee notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness and to secure the payment of the notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness by mortgage, pledge, or deed of trust of, or any other encumbrance upon, any or all of the surviving corporation's or successor corporation's then owned or later acquired real or personal property, assets, franchises, or revenues.

(6) To construct, purchase, lease as lessee, or otherwise acquire, and to improve, expand, install, equip, maintain, and operate, and to sell, assign, convey, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or encumber electric or communications facilities or systems, lands, buildings, structures, plants and equipment, exchanges, and any other real or personal property, tangible or intangible that is necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purpose for which the surviving corporation or successor corporation was formed.

(7) To construct, operate, and maintain electric or communications facilities across or along any street or public highway, or over any lands which are now or may be the property of this state or any political subdivision of the state, after obtaining any necessary franchise or permit. Before any electric or communications facilities are constructed across or along a highway in the state highway system, the surviving corporation or successor corporation shall obtain a permit to do so from the Indiana department of transportation, and the permit from the Indiana department of transportation shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or denied. The location and setting of the facilities shall be approved by the Indiana department of transportation and, upon that approval, shall be subject to the supervision of the Indiana department of transportation. Before any electric or communications facilities are constructed on or across lands belonging to the state, the surviving corporation or successor corporation shall first obtain a permit to do so from the department having charge of the lands, and the permit from that department shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or denied. The location and setting of the facilities shall be approved by the department having jurisdiction and, upon that approval, shall be subject to the supervision of that department. The electric or communications facilities shall be erected and maintained so as not to interfere with the use and maintenance of the streets, highways, and lands, and the facilities or any part of the facilities may not be located so as to interfere with the ingress or egress from any premises on a street or highway. This section does not prohibit the body having charge of the street or highway from requiring the relocation of any facility or part of a facility which may affect the proper use of the street or highway for public travel, for drainage, or for the repair, construction, or reconstruction of the street or highway. The surviving corporation or successor corporation shall restore the street, highway, or lands to their former condition or state to the extent possible and shall not use the street, highway, or lands in a manner that impairs unnecessarily their usefulness or injures the property of others.

(8) To connect and interconnect the surviving corporation's or successor corporation's communications facilities or systems with other communications facilities or systems.

(9) To accept gifts or grants of property, real or personal, from any person, municipality, or federal agency and to accept voluntary and uncompensated services.

(10) To make any contracts necessary or convenient for the full exercise of the powers granted by this chapter, including contracts with any person, federal agency, or municipality for the purchase of energy needed by the surviving corporation or successor corporation to supply its members; for the management and conduct of the business of the surviving corporation or successor corporation; and for the fixing of the rates, fees, or charges for service rendered or to be rendered by the surviving corporation or successor corporation.

(11) To sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise encumber or dispose of all or any part of the surviving corporation's or successor corporation's property as provided in this chapter.

(12) To levy and collect reasonable fees, rents, tolls, and other charges for services rendered.

(13) To exercise the right of eminent domain in the manner provided by law.

(14) To recover, after a period of two (2) years, any unclaimed stocks, dividends, capital credits, patronage capital, utility deposits, membership fees, account balances, or book equities for which the owner cannot be found and that are the result of distributable savings of the surviving corporation or successor corporation being returned to the members on a pro rata basis under section 24(d) of this chapter.

(15) To cease doing business and to dissolve and surrender the surviving corporation's or successor corporation's corporate franchise.

(16) To issue membership certificates.

(17) To adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws.

(18) To perform any of the acts set forth in this section under, through, or by means of the surviving corporation's or successor corporation's own officers, agents, or employees, or by contracts with any person, federal agency, or municipality.

As added by P.L.18-2010, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.42-2011, SEC.19.