Section 7-39-101 - Short title - Legislative intent - Construction of chapter(a) This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Energy Acquisition Corporations Act."(b) It is recognized by the general assembly that the provision of dependable, economical sources of energy to the citizens and residents of the state of Tennessee is vital to the health, welfare and economic well-being of the citizens and residents of the state of Tennessee and that the primary sources of energy in Tennessee are natural gas and electrical power. The general assembly further recognizes that both the market for natural gas and the market for electrical power have undergone major changes in recent years. In order to ensure that the municipal distributors of natural gas and electricity have the flexibility and power to compete for and obtain natural gas and electrical power for redistribution on terms that will result in continuing availability of these energy sources at reasonable rates to the citizens and residents of the state of Tennessee, it is the intent of the general assembly by this chapter to authorize the incorporation of public corporations in the several municipalities of this state to: (1) Finance, acquire, own, operate, lease and dispose of rights, titles and interest of every kind and nature in natural gas properties located within or outside of the state, including gas in reservoirs or in storage, and including facilities of every kind and nature, both real and personal, for the drilling of wells, extraction of liquids and transportation of gas and liquids;(2) Contract for the purchase of supplies of natural gas or any substitute for natural gas, including synthetic natural gas, liquefied natural gas, coal gas or other substance useable in lieu of natural gas, from any supplier located inside or outside the state;(3) Finance, acquire, own, operate, lease and dispose of rights, titles and interest of every kind and nature in electrical production, distribution and transmission facilities located within or outside of the state, including electrical materials and supplies and including facilities of every kind and nature, both real and personal, for the procurement of raw materials for the production of electrical energy;(4) Contract for the purchase of supplies of electrical power or any substitute for supplies of electricity from any supplier located inside or outside the state; and(5) Vest such corporations with all powers necessary to enable them to accomplish such purposes.(c) This chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with such intent, it being hereby determined and declared that the means provided by this chapter are needed to provide for the continued availability to the citizens and residents of the state of natural gas and electrical power at reasonable rates.Acts 1977, ch. 299, § 1; T.C.A., § 6-4201; Acts 1997, ch. 93, § 1; 1999, ch. 345, § 2; 2007, ch. 263, § 1.