Joint hearings and orders.

The commission, in the discharge of its duties under the Public Utility Act [Chapter 62, Articles 1 to 6 and 8 to 13 NMSA 1978], may make joint investigations, hold joint hearings within or without the state and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction or concurrence with any official or agency of any state, the United States or any New Mexico Indian nation, tribe or pueblo. In the holding of such investigations or hearings or in the making of such order, the commission may function under agreements or compacts between states to regulate interstate commerce. The commission, in the discharge of its duties under the Public Utility Act, may also negotiate and enter into agreements or compacts with agencies of other states, pursuant to any consent of congress, for cooperative efforts in certificating the construction, operation and maintenance of major utility facilities in accord with the purposes of the Public Utility Act and for the enforcement of the respective state laws regarding same.