Vt. Stat. tit. 24A § 3-417
For any and all of the purposes set forth in sections 415 and 416 of this charter, said City may acquire and hold within and without the limits thereof by gift, grant, purchase, or by the right of eminent domain, such lands, water powers, and rights-of-way as may be needed for the construction, maintenance, and operation of such electric plant and any and all required enlargements and improvements thereof from time to time, including enlargements and improvements of the present electric plant of said City, and also such lands and rights-of-way as may be needed for the construction, maintenance, and operation, and for the required enlargement and improvement from time to time of such gas plant and gas distribution system and may use any public street that it may be necessary and desirable to pass through with the poles, wires, and conduits of such electric plant, or with the distribution mains and equipment of such gas plant, provided the use of such highway for purposes of public travel is not thereby unnecessarily impaired, and further provided that said City may not exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire any existing property or rights owned and used by any existing public utility company or by any individual for public utility purposes.
24 Appendix V.S.A. § 3-417