Medical Preparedness ยท Medical Devices and Power
Utility Medical Priority Programs
Your power company may offer advance notification, priority restoration, and disconnect protection for households with life-sustaining equipment. Here is how to find the program, what to expect, and what it does not do.
Programs vary by utility and by state
This page describes the general structure of utility medical priority programs across the United States. The specific name, benefits, eligibility requirements, and application process depend on your utility company and your state's public utility commission regulations. Contact your utility directly for the rules that apply to your account.
What these programs are
Most electric utilities offer a way to flag accounts with life-sustaining medical equipment
Electric utility companies across the country maintain programs that identify customers whose households include someone who depends on electrically powered medical equipment. These programs go by different names depending on the utility: Medical Priority, Life Support Program, Medical Necessity, Medical Baseline, Critical Care, or Life-Sustaining Equipment Registry. The name varies, but the purpose is the same: to flag your account so the utility can treat it differently during outages, planned maintenance, and billing disputes.
These programs are typically free. They do not change your rate plan in most states, though some states (notably California) offer a Medical Baseline Allowance that provides additional electricity at the lowest available rate for qualifying medical equipment.1
Registration is one layer of protection. It is not a substitute for backup power, a relocation plan, or any of the other preparations described in the Power Outage Planning guide. Think of it as one more thing working in your favor when the power goes out.
What registration does not do
Every utility program reviewed for this guide states the same limitation: registration does not guarantee uninterrupted power, immediate restoration, or exemption from all outages. Storms, equipment failures, and widespread emergencies affect registered and unregistered customers alike.
Registration improves your position. It does not change physics. A tree on a transmission line affects everyone downstream regardless of their account status. Your backup power plan and your relocation plan remain essential.
What registration typically provides
Three benefits that vary by utility
Not every utility offers all three. Some offer additional benefits. The specifics depend on the utility, the state's public utility commission regulations, and the type of equipment involved. Ask your utility what their program provides.
Advance notification before planned outages
When the utility needs to shut off power for maintenance, construction, or system upgrades, registered medical-priority customers receive advance notice. This gives you time to charge batteries, arrange backup power, or relocate before the outage begins. Some utilities also provide advance notification before Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in wildfire-prone areas.1
Priority consideration during restoration
During emergency outages, many utilities give priority consideration to restoring power to accounts flagged with life-sustaining equipment. Some utilities place a visible tag on the meter at registered addresses so field crews can identify them. Priority consideration means your address is on the list crews try to reach first, but restoration order also depends on which circuits are damaged, how many customers are affected, and the physical sequence of repairs.
Disconnect protection during medical necessity
In many jurisdictions, a valid medical certificate on file provides temporary protection from disconnection for nonpayment. The specifics vary widely by state. Protection is typically temporary, often 30 to 60 days, and usually requires the customer to enter a payment arrangement. This protection does not eliminate the financial obligation. It provides time to arrange payment when a medical situation has created a financial hardship. Contact your state's public utility commission for the rules in your area.
How to register
The registration process follows a common pattern across most utilities
Step 1: Find your utility's program
Call the customer service number on your electric bill and ask whether they offer a medical priority, life support, or medical necessity program. You can also search your utility's website for these terms. If you are unsure which utility serves your address, your state's public utility commission (sometimes called the public service commission or corporation commission) can direct you.
Ask specifically: "Do you have a program for customers who use life-sustaining medical equipment?" The person who handles billing may need to transfer you to a different department.
Step 2: Gather what you need
Most programs require your utility account number and service address, the name and type of each medical device that depends on electricity, your prescribing physician's name and contact information, and in some cases the name of your home medical equipment supplier. Having your household medical profile completed makes this step straightforward because the device inventory is already documented.
Step 3: Get physician certification
Most utilities require a physician's signature on the application or a separate medical certification form. Some utilities accept a letter from the physician or a certification from a home health agency or medical equipment supplier. Ask your utility what format they accept. At your next appointment, ask your physician to complete the form. Many physicians are familiar with these programs and will sign without difficulty.
Step 4: Submit and confirm
Submit the completed application and medical certification to your utility by the method they specify: online, by mail, by fax, or in person. After submission, call to confirm that your account has been flagged and ask when the registration takes effect. Ask how you will be notified before planned outages: by phone, text, email, or a combination.
Step 5: Renew annually
Most programs require annual renewal of the medical certification. Some utilities send a reminder when renewal is due. Mark the renewal date on your calendar alongside your other annual preparedness reviews: emergency supply check, medication inventory, insurance review, and equipment maintenance. If the certification lapses, the account flag may be removed without notice.
Beyond the utility
Two other registrations worth making
Your utility is the most important registration, but two other programs work alongside it.
County special-needs registry
Many county emergency management offices maintain a registry of residents with medical equipment, mobility limitations, or other access and functional needs.2 Registration can result in welfare checks during extended outages, transportation assistance during evacuations, and access to medical shelters during declared emergencies. Contact your county emergency management office to ask whether they offer this and how to register. Some counties coordinate their registry with the utility's medical priority list; others maintain a separate database.
Local fire department notification
Some local fire departments maintain a list of addresses with medical equipment or oxygen in use. Notifying your fire department serves two purposes: first responders arriving at your home during an emergency will know that medical equipment is present and may need power, and some departments offer free home safety inspections that include CO alarm placement advice for generator users. Call your local non-emergency number and ask whether they accept medical equipment notifications.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a utility medical priority program?
A program that flags your utility account when someone in the household depends on electrically powered medical equipment. Names vary: Medical Priority, Life Support, Medical Necessity, Medical Baseline, Critical Care. Benefits typically include advance notification before planned outages, priority restoration consideration, and in some cases disconnect protection. These programs are generally free.
Does registering guarantee my power will stay on?
No. Every utility states that registration does not guarantee uninterrupted power. Storms and equipment failures affect all customers. Registration improves your chances of advance warning and priority restoration, but you still need backup power and a relocation plan.
How do I find my utility's program?
Call the customer service number on your electric bill and ask about medical priority, life support, or medical necessity programs. You can also search your utility's website. If you are unsure which utility serves you, your state's public utility commission can direct you.
What do I need to register?
Typically: your account number and service address, the name and type of each medical device, a completed application form from the utility, and a physician's certification confirming that the equipment is medically necessary. Most programs require annual renewal.
Does registration protect me from disconnection for nonpayment?
In many jurisdictions, a valid medical certificate provides temporary protection, often 30 to 60 days, typically requiring a payment arrangement. The specifics vary by state and utility. Registration does not eliminate the financial obligation. Contact your utility and your state's public utility commission for the rules in your area.
Sources
- 1. California Public Utilities Commission. "Medical Baseline." CPUC. Accessed September 4, 2026. cpuc.ca.gov/.../medical-baseline
- 2. FEMA. "Hurricane Preparedness for Persons With Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs." Federal Emergency Management Agency. Accessed September 4, 2026. fema.gov/.../hurricane-preparedness-persons-disabilities
- 3. Ready.gov. "People with Disabilities." U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Accessed September 4, 2026. ready.gov/people-disabilities
- 4. ADA National Network. "Emergency Power Planning for People Who Use Electricity and Battery-Dependent Assistive Technology and Medical Devices." Pacific ADA Center. Accessed September 4, 2026. adata.org/factsheet/emergency-power
Who to contact
Your electric utility company: The customer service number on your bill. Ask specifically about their medical priority, life support, or medical necessity program.
Your state's public utility commission: If you are unsure which utility serves you, or if you need to understand your state's rules on disconnect protection and medical certification. Search "[your state] public utility commission" or "[your state] public service commission."
Your county emergency management office: Ask about the special-needs registry, medical shelters, and accessible transportation during emergencies.
Your prescribing physician: For the medical certification required by most utility programs. Ask at your next appointment.
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