(a) Days discontinuance prohibited.— Except when required to prevent or alleviate an emergency as defined by the commission, except in the case of danger to life or property, no public utility, as defined in paragraph (1)(i), (ii), (v) or (vii) of the definition of "public utility" in section 102 (relating to definitions), shall discontinue, and the commission shall not authorize such a public utility to discontinue, except upon request of the customer, for nonpayment of charges or for any other reason, the rendering of service during the following periods:

1. (1) On Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
2. (2) On a bank holiday or on the day preceding a bank holiday.
3. (3) On a holiday observed by the public utility or on the day preceding such holiday. A holiday observed by a public utility shall mean any day on which the business office of the public utility is closed to observe a legal holiday, to attend public utility meetings or functions or for any other reason.
4. (4) On a holiday observed by the commission or on the day preceding such holiday.

(b) Personal contact before service discontinued.— Except when required to prevent or alleviate an emergency as defined by the commission or except in the case of danger to life or property, no public utility referred to in subsection (a) shall discontinue, and the commission shall not authorize such a public utility to discontinue, except upon request of a customer, for nonpayment of charges or for any other reason, the rendering of service without personally contacting the customer at least three days prior to such discontinuance, in addition to any written notice of discontinuance of service. Personal contact shall mean:

1. (1) contacting the customer by means other than writing; or
2. (2) contacting another person whom the customer has designated to receive a copy of any notice of disconnection; or
3. (3) if the customer has not made such designation, contacting a community interest group or other entity, including local police departments, which have previously agreed to receive a copy of the notice of disconnection and to attempt to contact the customer; or
4. (4) if the customer has not made such designation and no such community interest group or other entity has previously agreed to receive a copy of the notice of disconnection, contacting the commission or such other local government unit as the commission shall, by rule or regulation, designate.