Public utility service without bidding and notice

The appropriate public officer of the state, county, municipal corporation, township, school, or other public body or institution, may acquire the service, product, or commodity of a public utility at the schedule of rates and charges applicable to such service, product, or commodity on file with the public utilities commission, or the applicable charge established by a utility operating its property not for profit, at any location where such public utility service, product, or commodity is not available, from alternate public utilities, without the necessity of advertising to obtain bids, and without notice, irrespective of the amount of money involved.