Mandamus; injunction; utilities.

Whenever the commission is of the opinion that any person or public utility is failing or omitting or about to fail or omit to do anything required of it by the Public Utility Act [Articles 1 through 6 and 8 through 13 of Chapter 62 NMSA 1978] or by any order of the commission or is doing or about to do anything or permitting or about to permit anything to be done contrary to or in violation of that act or of any order of the commission, it may commence an action or proceeding in the district court for the county of Santa Fe, or in the district court of the county in which the complaint or controversy arose, in the name of the state of New Mexico for the purpose of having the violations or threatened violations stopped and prevented either by mandamus or injunction. The commission shall begin an action or proceeding by petition to the court alleging the violation or threatened violation complained of and praying for appropriate relief by way of mandamus or injunction. It is the duty of the court to specify a time, not exceeding thirty days after the service of the copy of the petition, within which the public utility or person complained of must plead, and in the meantime the public utility or person may for good cause shown be restrained. In case of default, the court shall immediately inquire into the facts and circumstances of the case. Such persons as the court deems necessary or proper to be joined as parties, in order to make its judgment, order or writ effective, may be joined as parties. The final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall either dismiss the action or proceeding or direct that the writ of mandamus or injunction issue or be made permanent as prayed for in the petition or in such modified or other form as will afford appropriate relief. An appeal may be taken as in other civil actions.