N.Y. Public Service Law § 26: Enforcement proceedings

§ 26. Enforcement proceedings. Whenever the commission shall be of the

opinion that a public utility company, corporation or person and the

officers, agents or employees thereof is failing or omitting or is about

to fail or omit to do anything required of it by any provision of this

chapter or by order or regulation, adopted under the authority of this

chapter or is doing anything or about to do anything, or permitting

anything or about to permit anything to be done contrary to or in

violation of any provision of this chapter or an order or regulation

adopted pursuant to this chapter, the commission may direct counsel to

the commission to commence an action or special proceeding in the

supreme court in the name of the commission for the purpose of having

such violations or threatened violations stopped and prevented. Counsel

to the commission shall thereupon begin an action or special proceeding

alleging the violation complained of and praying for appropriate relief.

In case of default in answer or after answer, the court shall

immediately inquire into the facts and circumstances in such manner as

the court shall direct. Such other corporations or persons, as it shall

seem to the court necessary or proper to join as parties in order to

make its judgment effective may be joined as parties to the action or

proceeding. The final judgment in any such action or special proceeding

shall either dismiss the action or special proceeding, direct judgment

as prayed for in the complaint or petition, or be in such other form as

the court may determine is just and reasonable.