§ 53. Application. For purposes of this article, a reference to a gas corporation, an electric corporation, a utility company, or a utility corporation shall include, but is not limited to, any entity that, in any manner, sells or facilitates the sale or furnishing of gas or electricity to residential customers. No provision of this article or of this chapter authorizes or permits the provision of gas or electricity service by any such corporation or other entity in any manner other than in full compliance with the provisions of this article or to authorize the commission to waive compliance with any requirement of this article for any such corporation or other entity.