South Carolina program
A doctor's note that holds off a shutoff
A doctor’s certificate can temporarily hold off a qualifying winter utility shutoff. The utility confirms whether the protection applies.
What it is
A doctor’s certificate can temporarily hold off a qualifying winter utility shutoff. The utility confirms whether the protection applies.
Losing electricity or gas can be especially serious when a child is ill at home. The utility can check winter medical-certificate protection and any other hardship policy. The required medical and payment statements matter.
Eligibility rules
- The 2025–26 state energy-assistance plan describes winter medical protection from December 1 through March 31 for Dominion Energy South Carolina and Duke Energy. The utility or Office of Regulatory Staff confirms whether your supplier and service are covered.
- A licensed physician must certify that disconnection would be especially dangerous to the person’s health. The customer also certifies that the bill cannot be paid by installments.
What you get
- A temporary hold on a qualifying winter shutoff.
- Up to three renewals after the first certificate period.
What the help includes
- The initial certificate expires 31 days after the physician signs it. Up to three renewals of 30 days are described, within the applicable winter protection and certification requirements; the utility should confirm each expiry.
- Delivery is at least three days before disconnection, or to the crew at the door.
If you decide to apply
- Ask the utility for its medical-certificate form and ask the treating physician about signing it.
- Have the disconnection notice and account details ready. If you decide to request the hold, the utility needs your statement about inability to pay by installments.
The utility, under the state commission's regulations · Official page ↗
If you decide to go ahead
- The utility can confirm the hold and its expiry date. Energy assistance is a separate possible way to reduce the balance.
Good to know
The certificate does not erase the debt. A cooperative or city-owned utility may have its own hardship policy.
Other details
- A cooperative or municipal utility may have its own hardship policy; this state protection does not establish that policy.
Official sources
“Does our utility accept a medical certificate for our child’s situation? Could you help us understand the hold, renewal dates and how to deal with the balance afterward?”
Why I’m asking: I want to understand how we can keep necessary utilities running during treatment.
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 form, get it signed, deliver it in time, and sign the part that says the bill cannot be paid by instalments.
Your social worker
The oncology team signs the medical part.
The care team
A licensed physician signs the certificate.
- Who decides
- The utility, under the commission's rules.
- Ask the care team
- “Our power company has sent a disconnection notice and my child is being treated at home. Can you sign the utility's medical certificate?”
How to apply
First step: Ask the utility for its medical certificate form and ask the team to sign it.
- Ask the utility how its medical-certificate deadline relates to the disconnection notice.
- Ask the oncology team to sign it.
- Your social worker can help compare energy assistance with the medical-certificate hold; the hold does not clear the bill.
Official application / program page ↗
Where it starts: Ask the utility for its medical certificate form, get a doctor to sign it, and deliver it at least three days before the disconnection.
What to gather
- The disconnection notice
- The utility's own form
- The treating doctor's details
How long: Initial expiry is 31 days after physician signature, with up to three 30-day renewals when the conditions are met.
What a yes looks like
The disconnection stopped and a date when the certificate runs out.
What a no looks like, and the next move
If the supplier is a cooperative or city-owned, ask for its own hardship policy in writing.
Watch out
- It only runs December through March.
- Cooperatives and city-owned utilities are outside the rule; ask the supplier what its own policy is.
- Energy assistance and the medical hold have separate rules; the certificate does not clear the bill.
The numbers and the rules
The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.
What it is worth
A qualifying winter medical certificate expires 31 days after physician signature, with up to three 30-day renewals.
- $31 — Day the certificate runs out
- $3 — Times it can be renewed
- $30 — Days each renewal adds
- $3 — Days before disconnection to deliver the certificate
Legal protection: A regulated electricity or gas company cannot disconnect in winter while a valid medical certificate is in force
What it costs the family: Nothing, beyond getting the doctor to sign.
The eligibility facts, as published
- Season
- December through March
- Who signs
- a licensed physician signs the utility's form; the customer signs to say the bill cannot be paid by instalments
- Delivery
- at least three days before the disconnection, or to the crew at the door
- Duration
- The initial certificate expires 31 days after the physician signs it; up to three 30-day renewals are described within the winter requirements.
- Scope
- companies the state commission regulates; electric cooperatives and city-owned utilities sit outside
The trap: It buys time; it does not cancel the bill. The certificate runs out on the 31st day and can be renewed at most three times, 30 days each. The customer also has to sign to say the bill cannot be paid by instalments.
Where I read this
- South Carolina Code of Regulations — Chapter 103, Public Service Commission — South Carolina Public Service Commission, read September 10, 2026
- South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff — Consumers — South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, read September 10, 2026