48

1. The commission shall establish a toll free number, to be attended from nine o'clock a.m. to nine o'clock p.m. each business day, which a residential customer may use to contact a commission designee authorized to order the reconnection, continuation or initiation of residential gas or electric service whenever a reasonable question regarding the circumstances of a termination or refusal of service exists or whenever the health and safety of a person is involved. 2. Each utility corporation or municipality shall designate an employee who can be contacted by the commission's designee and who is authorized to direct an ordered reconnection, continuation or initiation of service. 3. The commission may by regulation alter the time requirement for operation of the emergency hotline as set forth in this section if the commission determines that such alteration continues to provide substantial emergency access to the commission by residential customers.