(1) Whenever the commission, after a hearing upon its own motion, upon appeal by a public utility or power authority from a local government action pursuant to section 29-20-108 (5), C.R.S., or upon complaint, finds that the additions, extensions, repairs, or improvements to or change in the existing plant, equipment, facilities, or other physical property of any public utility or of any two or more public utilities ought reasonably to be made, that a new structure should be erected to promote the security or convenience of its employees or the public or in any other way to secure adequate service or facilities, or that the conditions imposed by a local government action unreasonably impair the ability of a public utility or power authority to provide safe, reliable, and economical service, the commission shall make and serve an order directing that such additions, extensions, repairs, improvements, or changes be made or such structure be erected in the manner and within the time specified in such order. If the commission orders the erection of a new structure, the selection of the site for such structure shall be subject to the approval of the commission. If a public utility or power authority appeals an order from a local government action under section 29-20-108, C.R.S., the commission may require that the public utility or power authority reimburse the commission for the reasonable expenses, attorney fees, and expert witness fees the commission incurs in reviewing the appeal. Any fee collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit such fee to the public utilities commission fixed utility fund created pursuant to section 40-2-114.

(2) If any additions, extensions, repairs, improvements, or changes or any new structures which the commission has ordered to be erected require joint action of two or more public utilities, the commission shall notify the public utilities that such additions, repairs, improvements, or changes or new structures have been ordered and that the same shall be made at their joint cost, whereupon the public utilities shall have such reasonable time as the commission may grant within which to agree upon the portion or division of cost of such additions, repairs, extensions, improvements, or changes or new structures which each shall bear. If, at the expiration of such time, such public utilities fail to file with the commission a statement that an agreement has been made for a division or apportionment of the cost or expense of such additions, extensions, repairs, improvements, or changes or new structures, the commission has the authority, after further hearing, to make an order fixing the proportion of such expense to be borne by each public utility and the manner in which the same shall be paid or secured.