Skip to content

Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Set up the ask

New York State Public Service Commission

HEFPA Medical-Emergency Utility Protections

What you get

Help with continued residential electric service, continued residential gas service and continued residential steam service. Open now.

Who starts it: Your care team
How it’s sent: Through your care team
Your time: One conversation with your care team
Last checked: Aug 27, 2026

Before you start, check you fit

A clinician must certify that loss of utility service would aggravate a medical emergency.
Initial protection is 30 days; renewal and longer chronic or life-support protection require additional documentation.
Renewal requires financial and updated medical information plus a reasonable payment effort.

1
One thing to do: ask your care teamThey send it. You give them what they need.

New York State Public Service Commission takes requests from your care team, not from families. Copy this message, or say it at the next visit.
```
Hi [social worker’s name],

Could you send a request to New York State Public Service Commission for us? They offer help with continued residential electric service, continued residential gas service and continued residential steam service, and it has to come from you. Their page is here: https://dps.ny.gov/hefpa-guide-and-forms

Tell me what you need from me and I’ll bring it to our next visit. Thank you for everything you do for us.

[your name] · [phone]
```
Copying is the only thing this page does with your text. Nothing is saved.

Their program page ↗ Checked Aug 27, 2026
What to bring to the meeting
- Your child’s diagnosis, the hospital’s name, and what you need help with.
What happens next
- Clinician or health authority notifies the utility by phone.
- Clinician submits written certification within five business days.

After your care team sends it

Family confirms coding and asks about renewal/inability-to-pay proof.

Full record, as published