House Bill 1734

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, TO OPERATE ITS WATER AND SEWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OUTSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF NATCHEZ; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Notwithstanding any provisions of Section 21-27-39, Mississippi Code of 1972, to the contrary, the governing authorities of the City of Natchez, Mississippi, and the Board of Water Commissioners of the Natchez Water Works in Adams County, Mississippi, in their discretion, may construct, expand, operate and maintain the Water and Sewer Distribution System of the City of Natchez and the Natchez Water Works for a distance not to exceed fifteen (15) miles from the corporate limits of the City of Natchez within any area not otherwise certificated to another water or sewer utility system for such service, upon obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Whenever such utility service is furnished to any customer outside the corporate limits of the City of Natchez, the consumer may not be charged at a rate greater than twice the rate charged for the same service within the corporate limits of the City of Natchez.

(2) The authority conferred by this act shall not be construed as an exemption from the provisions of Section 77-3-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, as to the requirements for obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity, the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission to regulate rates or any of the provisions of that law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.