Whenever the commission or department shall be of the opinion that any person or public utility is failing or omitting or is about to fail or omit to do anything required of it by Laws 1974, chapter 429 or by any order of the commission, 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 Laws 1974, chapter 429 or of any order of the commission, it shall refer the matter to the attorney general who shall take appropriate legal action.