When used in this chapter:

The term "Commission" means the Public Service Commission of this State.

The term "commissioner" means one of the members of the Public Service Commission of this State.

The term "corporation" includes all bodies corporate, joint-stock companies or associations, domestic or foreign, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest, having any of the powers or privileges of corporations not possessed by individuals or partnerships; but it shall not include municipalities as hereinafter defined.

The term "person" includes all individuals, partnerships or associations other than corporations.

The term "municipality" includes a city, town, county, township or any other corporation existing, created, or organized as a governmental unit under the Constitution or laws of this State except a consolidated political subdivision.

The term "public" means the public generally or any limited portion of the public, including a person, corporation or municipality.

The term "electrical utility" includes municipalities to the extent of their business, property, rates, transactions and operations without the corporate limits of the municipality, persons and corporations, their lessees, assignees, trustees, receivers or other successors in interest owning or operating in this State equipment or facilities for generating, transmitting, delivering or furnishing electricity for street, railway or other public uses or for the production of light, heat or power to or for the public for compensation; but it shall not include an electric cooperative or a consolidated political subdivision and shall not include a person, corporation or municipality furnishing electricity only to himself or itself, their residents, employees or tenants when such current is not resold or used by others.

The term "rate" means and includes every compensation, charge, toll, rental and classification, or any of them, demanded, observed, charged or collected by any electrical utility for any electric current or service offered by it to the public and any rules, regulations, practices or contracts affecting any such compensation, charge, toll, rental or classification.

The term "securities" means and includes stock, stock certificates, bonds, notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness and any assumption or guaranty thereof.

The term "consolidated political subdivision" means a consolidated political subdivision existing pursuant to the Constitution of this State, and shall not be deemed a city, town, county or other governmental unit merged thereinto.