Public Utilities - Historical Notes

The following acts were superseded, repealed or failed to win local ratification, but they are listed here as a reference to laws which once affected public utilities in Gibson County.

1. Acts of 1909, Chapter 245, authorized the issuance of a single charter for the operation of water, electric and ice companies, so that the same entity could operate waterworks, ice plants, electric lighting plants, and water, ice and electric power plants or systems in cities and towns with a population of less than 5,000 in Gibson, Lauderdale, and Sevier Counties.  This act subsequently was declared unconstitutional in Etowah Light and Power Co. v. Yancey, 197 F. 845 (E.D. Tenn. 1911).
2. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 661, validated and cured any defects in the sale, lease or rental of water, electric, or other municipally owned utilities prior to the passage of the act, in Gibson, Carroll, Dyer, Henry and Weakley Counties. (This act was repealed as to Weakley County only, by Private Acts of 1975, Chapter 97.)
3. Private Acts of 1990, Chapter 163, was an alternative bill introduced at the same session as Private Acts of 1990, Chapter 197, and would have amended Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 192 (creation of Gibson County Utility District, reproduced hereinabove), with no change to Section 1. No action was taken by the county legislative body, and the act never went into effect.
4. Private Acts of 2016, Chapter 34, would have amended Private Acts of 1953, Chapter 192, as amended by Private Acts of 1990, Chapter 197 and Private Acts of 2002, Chapter 141, with regard to commissioners taking office September 1, 2002, however, the Act was not approved locally.