def _reconnect(self):
        """Closes the existing database connection and re-opens it."""
        self.close()
        self._db = psycopg2.connect(**self._db_args)

        if self._search_path:
            self.execute('set search_path=%s;' % self._search_path)

        if self._timezone:
            self.execute("set timezone='%s';" % self._timezone)
Closes the existing database connection and re-opens it.