(a) Definitions.

(1) For purposes of this section, “employee” shall include, but not be limited to:

a. Any person who is an employee of such utility authorized to accept payment for sales and services;

b. The individual who is to terminate such sale or service.

(2) For purposes of this section, “person” shall include, but not be limited to, any individual, corporation, partnership, association or joint-stock company.

(b) (1) No person who engages in the distribution and sale of gas, water, wastewater, or electricity for use or consumption in any dwelling unit shall discontinue service or sale thereof due to nonpayment of past charges for such service or sale to the occupants of that dwelling unit and owed by the occupants thereof without at least 72 hours’ notice to said occupants of intention to so terminate, except as otherwise provided by this section.

(2) Each gas or electricity utility shall maintain a voluntary third-party notification program whereby a customer may designate, in writing, a third party to also receive the notice of termination of service required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section. The third party so designated must indicate, in writing, willingness to receive such notice on behalf of the customer and shall not be held, in any way, liable to the utility by reason of acceptance of third-party status.

(c) In no event shall such termination occur between 12:

(d) In no event shall such termination occur if any occupant of any dwelling unit shall be so ill that the termination of such sale or service shall adversely affect his or her health or recovery, which has been so certified by a signed statement from any duly licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner, of this State or of a state with similar accreditation and received by any employee or officer of such person engaging in the distribution or sale of gas, water or electricity. Signed statements from a licensed physician, physician assistant or advanced nurse practitioner, obtained pursuant to this section are effective for 120 days. Signed statements may be renewed by means of a new signed statement to prevent termination only if a customer makes a good faith effort to make payments towards the utility service being provided. The Delaware Public Service Commission, may promulgate regulations defining “good faith effort to make payments”. If a utility is subject to the jurisdiction of the Delaware Public Service Commission, that utility or a customer of the utility may petition the Delaware Public Service Commission for review of any dispute under this section. While such dispute is pending, a utility shall continue to provide utility service to the customer until a final Commission adjudication on the petition is issued. When possible no termination under this section shall occur without advance notice to any known case manager or coordinator of an occupant in an affected dwelling unit.

(e) Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.

60 Del. Laws, c. 452, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 317, § 2; 74 Del. Laws, c. 374, §§ 1, 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 337, § 1; 80 Del. Laws, c. 185, § 2.