Sec. 9s.

(1) A provider shall postpone a shutoff of service for not more than 21 days if the customer or a member of the customer's household is a critical care customer or has a certified medical emergency. The customer's certification shall identify the medical condition, any medical or life-supporting equipment being used, and the specific time period during which the shutoff of service will aggravate the medical emergency. The provider shall extend the postponement for further periods of not more than 21 days, not to exceed a total postponement of shutoff of service of 63 days, only if the customer provides additional certification that the customer or a member of the customer's household is a critical care customer or has a certified medical emergency. If shutoff of service has occurred without any postponement being obtained, the provider shall restore service for not more than 21 days, and shall continue the restoration for further periods of not more than 21 days, not to exceed a total restoration of service of 63 days in any 12-month period per household member. Annually, a provider is not required to grant shutoff extensions totaling more than 126 days per household.

(2) As used in this section:

(a) "Critical care customer" means a customer who requires, or has a household member who requires, home medical equipment or a life-support system, and who has provided appropriate documentation from a physician or medical facility to the provider identifying the medical equipment or life-support system and certifying that an interruption of service would be immediately life-threatening.

(b) "Medical emergency" means an existing medical condition of the customer or a member of the customer's household, as defined and certified by a physician or public health official on official stationery or company-provided form, that will be aggravated by the lack of utility service.

(c) "Provider" means a municipally owned electric or natural gas utility.

History: Add. 2009, Act 152, Imd. Eff. Nov. 23, 2009