65-35-101 - Chapter definitions. - Tennessee Statutes

65-35-101. Chapter definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

     (1)  “Owner” means the owner of any property, any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the whole or a part of any structure which is capable of receiving service by a utility;

     (2)  “Person” means an individual, corporation, firm, company, partnership, association or organization of any kind, public or private;

     (3)  “Tenant or occupant” means any person who occupies the whole or a part of any building, whether alone or with others, and includes the owner;

     (4)  “Utility” means any person, municipality, county, cooperative, board, commission, district or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, sanitary sewer service, telephone service, or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area, whether or not regulated by the Tennessee regulatory authority; and

     (5)  “Utility customer” means:

          (A)  The person or persons listed on the records of the utility as the customer liable for charges or payment for the utility service;

          (B)  The person or persons residing in the structure where utility services have been connected without permission or authorization of the utility; or

          (C)  The manager, superintendent, officer or other responsible official of a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, association or other business organization that is listed on the records of the utility as the customer liable for charges for utility service or acting in behalf of a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, association or other business organization where utility services have been connected without permission or authorization of the utility.

[Acts 1990, ch. 851, § 1; 1995, ch. 305, § 42; 1997, ch. 116, § 1.]