(i) attempt to call such person once during normal business hours and if unsuccessful, twice during reasonable nonbusiness hours (6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. on weekdays or 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays), if there is a telephone; and

(ii) make an onsite personal visit, if there is no telephone or if telephone contacts are unsuccessful.

(i) be submitted on stationery of a medical doctor or local board of health, and be signed by the medical doctor or an official of the local board of health qualified to make a medical judgment;

(ii) state the name and address of the certifying medical doctor or local board of health, and the doctor's State registration number;

(iii) state the name and address of the ill person; and

(iv) include an affirmation that the absence of water service will aggravate an existing medical emergency at a customer's premises.

(i) Initial certification of a medical emergency may be made either in writing or by telephone by a medical doctor or local board of health.

(ii) Initial certification is effective for 30 calendar days from the date the utility receives it, as long as written certification is provided to the utility within five business days of any certification made by telephone.

(iii) Certification made only by telephone is effective for five business days from the date the utility receives it.

(iv) Within five business days of receipt of written certification, the utility must provide the customer with a written notice that must:

(i) If the medical emergency is likely to continue beyond the expiration of any written certification, the certification may be renewed, provided that, before the expiration of the initial certification:

(ii) The utility must, within five calendar days of submission of the necessary information, determine whether the customer's assets and current income are insufficient to pay charges for service, considering other necessary and reasonable expenses of the customer.

(iii) If the utility determines that a customer has not demonstrated an inability to pay charges for service, it must provide the customer with written notice of the determination made under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph and the customer's right to a review of the determination by the commission's designee.

(iv) If the utility determines that a customer has demonstrated an inability to pay charges for service and a new written certification has been submitted, the utility must inform the customer that certification has been renewed, and how long it will be in effect.

(v) A renewed certification remains in effect for 30 calendar days, provided that in cases certified as chronic by a medical doctor or official of the local board of health, the renewed certification remains in effect for 60 calendar days. In such cases, a customer may request that the commission's designee approve a longer period for the written certification to remain in effect, and the commission's designee may approve such longer period, stating specific conditions to be met by the customer.

(i) written notice has been provided to the customer of the utility's determination either that the certification of medical emergency is no longer in effect or that the customer is able to pay charges for service;

(ii) any review of the utility's determination by the commission's designee has been completed; and

(iii) the requirements of section 14.4 of this Part have been complied with.

(i) A utility must make a diligent effort to contact personally an adult resident at the customer's premises at least 72 hours before termination of service to attempt to create a plan that would avoid termination and arrange for payment.

(ii) Where efforts at personal contact are unsuccessful or where a utility and a customer are unable to create a plan, the utility must notify the local department of social services of the name and address of the customer and the date of termination so that social services may ascertain if the customer is eligible for any assistance. The utility must continue service for at least 15 business days after providing this notice, unless notified by the local department of social services that other arrangements have been made.

(i) In cases where service has been terminated and the utility is later notified that the customer should have received the protections under this subdivision, the utility must:

(ii) In cases where a utility has terminated service consistent with the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subdivision, the utility must make a diligent effort to contact personally an adult resident at the customer's premises within 10 calendar days after termination, to determine whether alternative arrangements have been made for the provision of service and, if none have been made, attempt to create a plan that would restore service and arrange for payment.

(i) During cold weather periods, before terminating premises with heat-related service, a utility must make attempts to determine whether a resident may suffer serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination, in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph (2) of this subdivision. Doubts as to whether a person may suffer serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination must be resolved in favor of making such a finding.

(ii) For the purposes of this subdivision, a person may suffer serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination when there is evidence of any of the following:

(i) A utility must not terminate service to customers known to be receiving heat-related service during cold weather periods, unless the utility has made a diligent effort to contact personally the customer or an adult resident at the customer's premises, at least 72 hours before the intended termination and, if unsuccessful, at the time of termination, in order to find out whether a resident may suffer a serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination, to fully explain the reasons for termination and to provide the customer with information on the protections available under this Part.

(ii) Where the utility determines that a resident may suffer a serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination, a utility must not terminate service unless:

(iii) A utility notifying the local social services official under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph must inform the customer of the referral and explain its purpose.

(i) If a utility terminates service to a customer under this subdivision, and the customer or a resident 18 years or older was not personally contacted by the utility before termination of service and the customer has not contacted the utility for the purpose of requesting reconnection before 12 noon on the day following termination of service, the utility must, by onsite personal visit with the customer or other adult resident, immediately attempt to determine whether there is continuing occupancy and whether a serious impairment to health or safety may result. If the utility determines that a serious impairment may result, it must immediately restore service. If the utility is unable to make an onsite personal visit with the customer or an adult resident, and does not have reasonable grounds to believe that the customer has vacated the premises, the utility must immediately refer the name and address of the customer to the local social services official.

(ii) If after the discovery of tampered equipment, a utility decides to terminate service to a customer because of a potential health or safety problem, it must determine, in accordance with this subdivision, whether a resident may suffer a serious impairment to health or safety as a result of termination. If the utility determines that a resident may suffer a serious impairment, it must follow the procedures set forth in this subdivision; provided, however, that continued service is not required if it is impractical for the utility to eliminate an unsafe condition. In any cases where a resident may suffer a serious impairment and the utility terminates service to preclude the continuation of an unsafe condition, the utility must specially notify the local social services official on the same day service is terminated and request an immediate consideration of the case.