III. JURISDICTION

GO 95 and GO 128 are orders of the Commission setting forth rules and regulations for electric utilities operating and providing service in California. The rules involved concern the safety of the general public, electric utilities' customers and their employees. As required by the Public Utilities Code, "[e]very public utility shall furnish and maintain such adequate, efficient, just, and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities ... as are necessary to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of its patrons, employees, and the public." (Pub. Util. Code, § 451.) In our broad grant of jurisdiction over public utilities in California, we are authorized to "do all things, whether specifically designated in ... [the Public Utilities Act] or in addition thereto, which are necessary and convenient" to our regulation of public utilities, including, though not limited to, adopting necessary rules and requirements in furtherance of our constitutional and statutory duties to regulate and oversee public utilities operating in California. (Id., § 701.)

This Commission has comprehensive jurisdiction over questions of public health and safety arising from utility operations. (San Diego Gas & Electric v. Superior Court ("Covalt") (1996), 13 Cal.4^th 893, 923-924.) Our jurisdiction to regulate these entities is set forth in the California Constitution and in the Public Utilities Code. (Cal. Constit., Art. 12, §§ 3, 6; Pub. Util. Code, §§ 216, 701, 1001; see also, Order Instituting Investigation Into the Power Outage Which Occurred on December 8, 1998 on Pacific Gas & Electric System (1998) ___ Cal.P.U.C.2d ___ , D.99-09-028, at 7-8.) Such utilities are required to "obey and comply with every order, decision, direction, or rule made or prescribed by the [C]ommission ...." (Pub. Util. Code, § 702; see also, id., §§ 761, 762, 767.5, 768, 770.) The Commission is obligated to see that the provisions of the Constitution and state statutes affecting public utilities are enforced and obeyed. (Pub. Util. Code, § 2101.)