Any city in this state having a population of 25,000 or more is hereby authorized to take for public use the absolute title in fee to any public utility for supplying water, light, heat, power or transportation to the municipality and the inhabitants thereof within or without its corporate limits, the same being then and there the private property of any person or of any corporation, within the limits of the state constitution, and to institute and prosecute proceedings for that purpose.
MCL 213.111