If you or someone you care for has a serious health condition that requires electricity for medical devices or refrigeration of medications, many public utility companies offer medical protection programs. These programs prevent service disconnection.
What is Utility Medical Protection?
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Checking if Your State Offers Utility Protection
Requesting Utility Protection for You or Your Care Recipients here
Does Your State Offer Utility Medical Protection?
44 states in the US have policies to prevent disconnections for vulnerable populations
U.S. States with Utility Protections
Press your state to learn more about your state’s specific Utility Medical Protection Program
How Can You Request Utility Protection?
The steps for requesting Medical Utility Protection differ slightly for each state, but generally, each state will require two things:
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This is often in the form of a Medical Protection Form obtained from the utility company and signed by your physician.
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Once you know your state has a mandated Utility Medical Protection program, contact your utility service directly to ask about the steps needed to register yourself or your care recipient.
Example Script:
Hello, my name is [your name], and I am calling to request Medical Utility Protection for my household. Someone in my household has a medical condition that requires continued utility service, and we need to make sure our [electricity/gas/water] is not disconnected. Could you please tell me how to apply for medical protection status?
I understand that this usually requires a medical certification form from a doctor, and I would like instructions on how to submit that as well.
More Resources
References
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2013, July 2). Preparing makes sense for people with disabilities and other access and functional needs [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLLMDOScE4g
LIHEAP Clearinghouse. (n.d.). State disconnection policies: Vulnerable populations. Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://liheapch.acf.gov/Disconnect/vulnerable.htm
National Grid. (n.d.). Special protections. https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/Bill-Help/Special-Protections
Public Service Commission of [State Name]. (2015, August 7). Certification of Serious Illness or Life Support and/or Permission for Utility to Release Contact Information in a Weather-Related Emergency. https://psc.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/physiciancertificationform_psc8011.pdf
Wein, O. (2022, September 28). Protecting seriously ill consumers from utility disconnections: What states can do to save lives now. National Consumer Law Center.