48:2-29.49 Annual request for information by electric public utility.

2. a. An electric public utility shall request from every residential customer, on a semi-annual basis, information, determined by the board, as to whether the residential customer, or any person living at the residential customer's address, uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity at the residential customer's address. If a residential customer responds to the utility's request for information indicating that the residential customer or a person living at the residential customer's address uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, the utility shall designate that residential customer as a medical customer.

b. Discontinuance of electric service for nonpayment is prohibited for a period of 90 days, if a medical customer's condition would be aggravated by a discontinuance of electric service. The board may extend the 90-day period of time in which a discontinuance of electric service is prohibited for an additional period of time for good cause. The board shall determine which types of licensed medical professionals are able to sign a medical certification needed to avoid the discontinuance of electric service pursuant to this section and shall establish conditions that shall apply to the prohibition on a discontinuance of electric service to a medical customer that shall include, but not be limited to, provisions requiring the medical customer to:

(1) provide reasonable proof of an inability to pay a utility bill on or before the bill's due date; and

(2) submit a written licensed medical professional's statement to the utility, stating:

(a) the existence of the medical customer's use of life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity at the medical customer's premises and the probable duration of that use;

(b) the nature of the condition of the medical customer and its probable duration, only if the disclosure of the information is not otherwise prohibited by law; and

(c) that the discontinuance of service to the medical customer will aggravate the condition of the medical customer.

L.2019, c.154, s.2.