Section 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.