For purposes of this chapter, “municipality” means any town, city or borough. Any municipality may, under the limitations of this chapter, construct, purchase, lease or establish, and maintain one or more plants for the manufacture and distribution of gas or electricity for furnishing light for municipal use and for the use of such of its inhabitants as may require and pay for the same. Such plants may include suitable lands, structures, easements, water privileges, stations, gasometers, boilers, engines, dynamos, tools, machinery, pipes, conduits, poles, conductors, burners, lamps and other apparatus and appliances for making, generating, distributing and using gas or electricity for lighting purposes. Notwithstanding any provision of a special act or municipal charter to the contrary, any municipality that owns or operates one or more plants for the manufacture or distribution of electricity pursuant to this section or any special act may own or operate a community antenna television system, as defined in § 16-1, for the purpose of providing community antenna television service, as defined in said section, for its residents and residents of the municipalities within the franchise area of which it is a part.