Any municipality may provide by ordinances for the equitable assessment upon the owner or occupant of real estate of any part or the whole of the cost of furnishing, laying and maintaining upon the premises of such owner or occupant pipes, conduits, conductors or other appliances for the distribution of gas or electricity to such premises. Payment of such assessment shall not be obligatory but shall be made a condition precedent to the supplying of gas or electricity to the occupants of such premises and may be exacted before providing any such appliances for such distribution.
(1949 Rev., S. 714; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 29.)