In accordance with the provisions of this chapter, any municipality within this state may join with other municipalities for the purpose of jointly constructing, acquiring, or operating natural or artificial gas transmission lines, distribution systems, and plants upon such contractual basis as may be desirable and mutually agreeable to the governing bodies of the municipalities concerned. Such lines, systems, or plants shall be jointly operated by a board consisting of such representatives of each municipality as may be agreed by the governing bodies thereof, except that each such municipality shall have at least one member on such board, as selected by the governing body thereof. The governing board of such jointly operated utilities shall have all of the powers of any utility owned or operated by a single municipality. Before any such jointly operated utility shall begin operation, it shall first secure a certificate of convenience and necessity from the public service commission, which shall issue or refuse the issuance of such certificate upon like procedure and grounds as is required for such action upon the certificates of privately owned utilities. Such jointly operated utilities shall be subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the public service commission in the same manner as privately owned utilities.