Section 11-81-161 Acquisition, Extension, Repair, Consolidation, Etc., of Waterworks, Sewer, Gas or Electric Systems by Counties or Municipalities Authorized.
AI-assisted research summary: Counties and incorporated municipalities may acquire, improve, extend, repair, and consolidate certain utility systems, but municipalities and counties are barred from constructing certain utility systems where existing public utility service already operates in the covered area.
(a) Any county or incorporated municipality in the State of Alabama is authorized to acquire by any lawful means any one or more of the following systems: a waterworks system, a sanitary sewer system, a gas system and an electric system and, in furtherance of the acquisition of any such system, to acquire any necessary part thereof within or without or partially within and partially without the limits of any such county or the corporate limits of any such municipality, as the case may be; provided, that no municipality in this state shall have, under the authority conferred by this article, the right to construct a gas system, a domestic water distribution system or electric system or portion thereof if there is at the time of such proposed construction a gas system, domestic water distribution system or electric system, respectively, or any portion thereof, then operated as a public utility within the corporate limits of such municipality by any private or public utility corporation, individual, partnership or association; provided further, that no county in this state shall have under the authority conferred by this article the right to construct a gas system, domestic water distribution system, electric system or portion thereof in that portion of said county where there may then be located any gas system, domestic water distribution system or electric system, respectively, or any portion thereof, then being operated as a public utility by any private or public utility corporation, individual, partnership or association. (b) Any county or incorporated municipality in the state that may now or hereafter own and operate a waterworks system, sanitary sewer system, gas system or electric system is authorized to improve, enlarge, extend and repair such system and to furnish the services, commodities and facilities of such system to domestic or industrial users or both within or without the limits of such county or municipality, as the case may be. (c) Any such county or incorporated municipality may, if it so elects, at any time and from time to time consolidate any two or more of its systems, including any waterworks system, sanitary sewer system, gas system or electric system into one combined and consolidated system and provide for the operation, maintenance and repair of such combined system and the keeping of books and records with respect thereto as one unit.