Stop a Power or Heat Shutoff With a Doctor's Note
If you or someone in your home has a medical condition, and losing your power or heat would put their health in danger, most states let a doctor's note put a shutoff on hold. It's called a medical certificate. Here's exactly how to ask for it.
- Free to ask for
- Works in most states
- Electric and gas
Watch how it works
About a minute, all five steps.
What is it?
A medical certificate is a form your doctor signs saying a shutoff would put someone's health or life in danger. Once your utility company gets it, it has to put the shutoff on hold for a set number of days. Some states let you renew it.
Who can use it?
Anyone who lives in your home and whose health would be at serious risk without power or heat. For example, someone who:
- Uses oxygen, a CPAP, a nebulizer, or home dialysis
- Uses other powered medical equipment
- Has a condition that cold (or heat) makes dangerous, like serious heart or lung disease
- Needs medicine kept cold in a refrigerator
How long does the hold last?
It depends on your state. A few examples:
| State | Hold for each certificate |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 10 days |
| Missouri, Washington DC | 21 days |
| Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Vermont | 30 days |
| Illinois, Mississippi, Washington | 60 days |
| Colorado | 90 days |
| Oregon | Up to 6 months |
Some states let you renew it, and some limit how many times. Your utility company or your state's utility commission can tell you your exact rules.
How to do it
Step 1: Call your utility right away
Don't wait. The minute you get a shutoff notice, call the number on your bill and say:
- Ask them to send you the form (or tell you where to find it on their website).
- Ask how many days you have to turn it in.
- Write down the date and the name of the person you talked to.
Step 2: Call your doctor's office the same day
Tell them your power or heat is about to be shut off and you need a medical certificate signed. In many states, your doctor can also call the utility to hold the shutoff while the written form is on its way.
Step 3: Turn the form in fast
- Fax
- Upload
Use whatever your utility accepts. Make sure every box is filled in, including how long the condition will last. A missing answer can get it sent back.
Step 4: Set up a payment plan
Ask the utility for a payment plan on what you owe, and keep paying your current bill. In most states, staying on the plan is what keeps the protection in place. If the plan they offer is more than you can pay, call your state's utility commission before you agree to it.
Step 5: Get help paying the bill
LIHEAP is the federal heating and cooling help program. It can pay part of your bill, and some states also use it for crisis help when a shutoff is coming. Call this line and they'll tell you where to apply in your state:
1-866-674-6327National Energy Assistance Referral · tap to callYou can also email energyassistance@ncat.org, or call 2-1-1 for local help.
Good to know
Most states also have winter rules
Most states block shutoffs on the coldest days, by date, by temperature, or both. In Missouri, the Cold Weather Rule runs November 1 through March 31 and protects you when it's 32 degrees or colder. See every state's winter rules.
Already shut off?
Call anyway. Some states will reconnect service with a medical certificate if it was cut off recently.
Someone uses life-support equipment?
Ask your utility about its medical or life-support list. Being on it can get you advance warning before an outage or shutoff and a higher spot for getting power back. It's separate from a medical certificate, so ask for both.
A few states don't require it
A small number of states, including Alabama, Alaska, Louisiana, and North Carolina, don't have a binding medical certificate rule. Utilities there may still have their own policy, so call and ask.
They turned it down?
Ask them for the exact reason in writing. Many problems, like a missing box or the wrong kind of signer, can be fixed and sent again. If not, file a complaint with your state's utility commission, and tell them a shutoff is coming so they act fast.
Rules are different in every state and can change, so check with your utility company or your state's utility commission. Last checked October 2026. Dependent, Not Addicted is not part of the government or any utility company. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice.