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

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Connecticut program

A doctor's note that holds off a utility shutoff

Medical and winter hardship protections against electric or gas shutoff in Connecticut.

What it is

Medical and winter hardship protections against electric or gas shutoff in Connecticut.

Losing electric or gas service can make care unsafe. Protection depends on the service, season, medical risk and finances. Relevant state protections include municipal utilities, although complaint routes can differ.

Eligibility rules
  • Electric and gas protections can include municipal customers. The year-round medical protection requires a life-threatening shutoff situation and inability to pay the entire account. Winter hardship is a separate protection.
  • There is also a special protection for a baby under two just home from hospital who needs powered equipment. Water, cable and delivered fuel are not covered.
What you get
  • A shutoff hold when the medical and financial tests are met.
  • Winter hardship protection from November 1 to May 1.
  • An electricity discount when the utility’s current income or benefit rules are met.
What the help covers
  • Eversource and United Illuminating offer electricity-discount programs. The utility confirms the current rate, effective date and eligibility for the account.
  • The Matching Payment Program can match eligible customer payments and energy assistance toward arrears. Its November 1–October 31 cycle and payment agreement have separate terms; matching cannot create a credit balance.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask your utility for its medical-protection form and financial requirements.
  2. Ask the doctor to describe why loss of service would threaten your child’s life.
  3. Have the account number, unpaid bill and power-dependent equipment or medication details ready.

Your electric or gas utility; PURA can explain its complaint jurisdiction. · Official page ↗

After you apply
  • Winter hardship protection runs November 1 through May 1 inclusive. The utility confirms required documents, renewal dates and the actual shutoff-notice deadline for the account.
  • The utility sets the length of the hold and when the certificate must be renewed; ask for both in writing. Town-owned utilities follow the same protection.
Good to know

Medical protection can keep qualifying electric or gas service on, but it does not erase the bill. Municipal customers can also qualify; assistance programs and complaint routes can differ.

Other details
  • The utility confirms the current electricity discount and whether a payment-matching agreement can reduce arrears. Compliance with that agreement and medical shutoff protection are separate questions. A doctor’s certification does not cancel debt.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Would losing power create a medical-protection case for our child, and what proof does the utility need? Could you explain the limits and help with the certification if it fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want home care to remain safe if utility bills become difficult to pay.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Discuss the benefit and tradeoffs with the social worker. Ask your utility for its medical-protection form and financial requirements. Ask the doctor to describe why loss of service would threaten your child’s life. Have the account number, unpaid bill and power-dependent equipment or medication details ready.

Your social worker

The oncology team signs the certification naming the equipment or medication.

The care team

The doctor certifies that losing power would be dangerous for your child.

Who decides
The utility applies the relevant protection. Municipal customers may have a different complaint route.
Ask the care team
“Would losing power create a medical-protection case for our child, and what proof does the utility need? Could you explain the limits and help with the certification if it fits?”

How to apply

First step: Your social worker can help you discuss this route and prepare the request if it fits. Ask your utility for its medical-protection form and financial requirements.

  1. Ask your utility for its medical-protection form and financial requirements.
  2. Ask the doctor to describe why loss of service would threaten your child’s life.
  3. Have the account number, unpaid bill and power-dependent equipment or medication details ready.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Ask your utility for its medical-protection form and financial requirements. Ask the doctor to describe why loss of service would threaten your child’s life. Have the account number, unpaid bill and power-dependent equipment or medication details ready.

What to gather

  • The account number
  • The doctor's certification
  • A list of the equipment or medication that needs power

How long: Winter hardship protection runs November 1 through May 1 inclusive. The utility confirms required documents, renewal dates and the actual shutoff-notice deadline for the account. There is no single medical-hold length for every account. The utility confirms the medical certification, financial test, renewal and restoration steps. Municipal customers can have statutory rights even when PURA is not their usual complaint regulator.

What a yes looks like

The utility identifies the protection, its conditions and any separately approved discount in writing.

What a no looks like, and the next move

The utility can explain the rule used. PURA can identify whether it or another route handles the complaint.

Watch out

  • Municipal electric and gas customers are not automatically excluded from state shutoff law.
  • The utility confirms medical certification, renewal and restoration steps for the account.
  • A medical certification does not erase the balance. Discounts and payment matching have separate terms.

Dates that change this

2026-09-11: Medical protection can apply year-round when loss of service threatens life and the household cannot pay the full account. The utility confirms certification, renewal, notice and restoration requirements; there is no universal hold duration.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Qualifying medical shutoff protection, winter hardship protection and utility-specific bill discounts.

  • $13 — Unverified general 13-day notice reference; not an applicable account deadline
  • $10/month — Unverified general 10% discount reference; not an applicable current benefit rate

Legal protection: Winter hardship protection from November 1 to May 1 · A physician-certified protection where a shutoff would create a life-threatening situation and the household cannot pay the whole account · The utility confirms the applicable notice, medical certification and renewal requirements.

What it costs the family: Free.

The eligibility facts, as published

Age
any
Income
Medical protection requires inability to pay the whole account; the utility confirms current discount and winter-hardship financial rules.
Insurance status condition
none
Residency
Connecticut electric or gas customers, including qualifying municipal utility customers
Processing standard
The utility confirms deadlines and restoration steps for the actual account and notice.

Decisions this site cannot make: The utility decides which medical or winter protection applies; the complaint regulator depends on the utility.

Expect friction on: Municipal electric and gas customers can have statutory protection, although PURA complaint jurisdiction differs.

The trap: Medical protection can keep qualifying electric or gas service on, but it does not erase the bill. Municipal customers can also qualify; assistance programs and complaint routes can differ.

Where I read this

← Back to your options