All irrevocable public utility franchises and all renewals and extensions thereof and amendments thereto shall be granted by ordinance only. No franchise shall be granted for a longer period than thirty years.
No franchise ordinance which is not subject to revocation at the will of the Commission shall be enacted nor become operative until the same shall have first been referred to the people at a regular or special election as provided by general law. This requirement shall be deemed to have the same limits of applicability as is accorded the franchise requirements in the State constitution and general laws.