(a) The jurisdiction of the commission shall extend to and include:
(1)
(A) All matters pertaining to the regulation and operation of all:
(i) Common carriers;
(ii) Railroads;
(iii) Express companies;
(iv) Car companies;
(v) Freight lines;
(vi) Toll bridges;
(vii) Ferries;
(viii) Steamboats;
(ix) Street railroads;
(x) Telegraph companies;
(xi) Telephone companies;
(xii) Pipeline companies for transportation of oil, gas, and water;
(xiii) Gas companies;
(xiv) Electric lighting companies and other companies furnishing gas or electricity for light, heat, or power purposes;
(xv) Hydroelectric companies for the generation and for transmission of light, heat, or power; and
(xvi) Water companies furnishing water within municipalities for municipal, domestic, or industrial use.
(B) Nothing in this act shall vest the commission with jurisdiction as to any rate, charge, rule, regulation, order, hearing, investigation, or other matter pertaining to the operation within the limits of any municipality of any street railroad, telephone company, gas company, pipeline company for transportation of oil, gas, or water, electric company, water company, hydroelectric company, or other company operating a public utility or furnishing public service as to which jurisdiction may be elsewhere conferred in this act upon any municipal council or city commission. Notwithstanding the jurisdiction of the municipality as to the above matters within the limits of the municipality, the commission shall have, and is delegated, the authority and duty to require all utility companies now furnishing public service within the limits of any municipality to furnish and continue furnishing that service to the municipality although the right of regulation of the utility as to rates and all other matters within the municipality is elsewhere in this act conferred upon the municipal councils or city commissions, subject to right of appeal to the courts.
(C) Further, nothing in this act shall vest the commission with jurisdiction as to any improvement district or municipality furnishing gas or electricity for any purpose; and
(2) All other jurisdictions, if any, possessed by the Arkansas Railroad Commission [abolished] under the laws of Arkansas in force on March 31, 1919.
(b) For the purpose of this act, and in the construction of this act, every person, firm, association, company, partnership, corporation, or other organizations engaged in the operation of any public utility above indicated shall be deemed to be a company within the meaning of this act.