Except as otherwise provided in this section, no foreign corporation, other than those which by compliance with the laws of this State are entitled to transact a public utility business within this State, shall henceforth transact within this State any public utility business, nor shall any foreign corporation which is at present lawfully transacting business within this State henceforth transact within this State any public utility business of a character different from that which it is at present authorized by its charter or articles of incorporation to transact. No license, permit, or franchise to own, control, operate, or manage any public utility business or any part or incident thereof shall be henceforth granted or transferred, directly or indirectly, to any foreign corporation which is not at present lawfully transacting within this State a public utility business of like character.
Foreign corporations engaging in commerce with foreign nations or commerce among the several states may transact within this State such commerce and intrastate commerce of a like character; provided, however, that no such foreign corporation shall be permitted to engage in intrastate commerce within this State until it shall have first complied with the laws of this State respecting foreign corporations. Any foreign corporation which complies with the laws of this State respecting foreign corporations, and which owns at least 90 percent of the outstanding capital stock of any other foreign corporation transacting a public utility business in this State, may succeed to the public utility business, franchises, and rights of such latter corporation and, thereafter continue and carry on such public utility business.