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

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New York program

Hold a gas, electric or steam shutoff with a doctor's certificate (HEFPA)

A doctor's medical-emergency certificate can temporarily protect gas, electric or steam service from shutoff.

What it is

A doctor's medical-emergency certificate can temporarily protect gas, electric or steam service from shutoff.

Losing utility service can worsen a medical emergency. HEFPA gives a way to keep eligible residential service on while the medical situation is documented. The protection delays shutoff; the unpaid balance remains.

Eligibility rules
  • A doctor or local Board of Health can certify the emergency.
  • It covers home gas, electric and steam service from most companies. Ask your utility to confirm your account is covered.
What you get
  • A 30-day medical-emergency shutoff hold for covered gas, electric or steam service.
  • Renewal or a longer period when the medical and financial conditions are met.
What the help includes
  • A renewal can add 30 days when the doctor explains the risk and duration and the household shows inability to pay.
  • A chronic condition may support a longer period.
  • Special life-support arrangements depend on the certificate and applicable utility rules. Your utility and DPS can confirm the duration, renewal conditions and evidence of inability to pay for your case.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask your child's doctor whether loss of service would worsen a medical emergency.
  2. If you choose to request the hold, ask the doctor or local Board of Health to contact the utility and send the certificate.
  3. Have the shutoff notice and, for renewal, evidence that you cannot pay ready.

Your utility’s medical-emergency team; NYS DPS complaints 800-342-3377, business days 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.; emergency shutoff hotline 800-342-3355, business days 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • The hold starts when the utility receives the medical-emergency notification.
  • The Department of Public Service handles disputes with the utility.
Good to know

A phone notice needs written medical certification within five business days. Renewal also requires proof of inability to pay.

Other details
  • A hold gives time to address the debt; it does not pay or cancel it.
  • Other services, such as water, heating oil or telephone, need a separate discussion with that company.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Would a utility shutoff worsen our child's medical condition enough for a certificate? What would the hold cover and leave unpaid, and could you help us request it if appropriate?”

Why I’m asking: We want to keep medically important household services working while we sort out the bill.

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

Get the doctor's call made, send the written certificate within five business days, and keep copies.

Your social worker

The social worker gets the certificate written and sent the same week.

The care team

Calls the utility and writes the certificate naming the medical emergency, that a shutoff would aggravate it, and how long it will last.

Who decides
The utility applies the rule; the Public Service Commission enforces it.
Ask the care team
“Can you certify to the utility that losing power or heat would aggravate my child's medical emergency, and how long it will last? I have five business days to send the written version.”

How to apply

First step: The day a shutoff notice arrives, ask the oncology team to call the utility and send the written medical-emergency certificate within five business days. Apply for HEAP emergency help at the same time.

  1. Ask the oncology team to call the utility and send the written certificate within five business days.
  2. Apply for HEAP emergency help and a payment plan while the hold runs.
  3. Ask about a life-support certificate if equipment at home needs power.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Have the doctor call the utility, then send the written certificate within five business days; call the Department of Public Service helpline on the shutoff notice if the utility refuses.

What to gather

  • The shutoff notice
  • The doctor's written certificate
  • Proof of inability to pay for a renewal

How long: The hold starts on the utility's notification and runs 30 days.

What a yes looks like

The utility confirms the medical hold and the date it ends.

What a no looks like, and the next move

If the utility refuses, call the Department of Public Service helpline printed on the notice and file a complaint.

Watch out

  • A phone call is not enough: the written certificate must reach the utility within five business days.
  • The renewal needs both a medical explanation and proof you cannot pay; the total number of renewals was not found. A chronic condition can get a longer period.
  • Gas, electric and steam only, including municipal utilities. Heating oil, water and phone are not covered; ask each of those companies for its own hardship policy.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 9, 2026.

What it is worth

Gas, electric or steam service kept on for 30 days on a medical-emergency certification, renewable for another 30 days; longer for a chronic condition; life-support certificates until the PSC terminates them.

  • $30 — Initial medical-emergency hold
  • $5 — Business days to send the written certificate after a phone notice
  • $30 — Renewal period (with medical explanation and inability-to-pay showing)
  • $3 — Life-support: how often you must show inability to pay

Legal protection: Service kept on for 30 days on a doctor's or Board of Health notice of a medical emergency · Renewal for another 30 days with a medical explanation and inability-to-pay showing; longer for a chronic condition · Life-support certificate effective until terminated by the PSC (inability to pay shown every three months) · Applies to residential gas, electric and steam service, including municipal utilities

What it costs the family: None. The bill is still owed.

The eligibility facts, as published

Certifier
a doctor or the local Board of Health
Notice
by phone, followed within five business days by written certification with the certifier's identification
Hold days
30
Renewal
another 30 days if the doctor explains why lack of service would aggravate the emergency and how long it will last, and the customer shows inability to pay; chronic conditions can get longer
Total renewals
NOT FOUND
Life support
certificate remains effective unless terminated by the PSC; inability to pay shown every three months
Utilities bound
residential gas, electric and steam service by any such corporation or municipality (PSL §30); a member-only steam cooperative is excepted; every electric cooperative case was not resolved
Not covered
heating oil, water and telecom were not researched

Expect friction on: Written certificate within five business days · Renewal needs proof of inability to pay

The trap: It is a hold, not forgiveness, and the written certificate must follow a phone call within five business days. Municipal utilities are covered by the statute; whether every electric cooperative is was not resolved. Heating oil, water and telephone are outside it.

Where I read this

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