§ 16. No rent for meters to be charged. No gas corporation, electric
corporation or gas and electric corporation directly or indirectly shall
charge or collect rent on its gas meters, and any person, or corporation
violating this provision shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars
for each offense, to be sued for and recovered in the corporate name of
the city, town or village where the violation occurs, in any court
having jurisdiction, and when collected to be paid into the treasury of
such city, town or village and to constitute a part of the contingent or
general fund thereof.