Wis. Stat. § 196.51: Prior permits and franchises validated.

Any license, permit or franchise to own, operate, manage or control any plant or equipment for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power in any municipality is valid and shall not be affected by s. 196.50 (1), if the license, permit or franchise was granted prior to April 3, 1911, to any public utility or was under consideration prior to April 3, 1911, in the governing body of any municipality at the time another public utility operating in the municipality obtained an indeterminate permit.