Section 65-4-112 - Utilities leasing, merging, or consolidating property(a) No lease of its property, rights, or franchises, by any such public utility, and no merger or consolidation of its property, rights and franchises by any such public utility with the property, rights and franchises of any other such public utility of like character shall be valid until approved by the commission, even though power to take such action has been conferred on such public utility by the state or by any political subdivision of the state.(b) Any public utility as defined in § 65-4-101, may, without the approval or consent of the state or the commission, or any other agency of the state, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its property, including, but without limitation, franchises, rights, facilities, and other assets, and its capital stock, to any of the nonutilities defined in § 65-4-101.Acts 1919, ch. 49, § 6; Shan. Supp., § 3059a89; Code 1932, § 5452; Acts 1935, ch. 42, § 2; C. Supp. 1950, § 5448.1; impl. am. Acts 1955, ch. 69, § 1; Acts 1995, ch. 305, § 20.