N.H. Admin. Code § En 1205.02 - Medical Emergency Certification

(a) Provision of a medical emergency certification, in conjunction with a payment arrangement for any past due balances in accordance with En 1203.07, shall be sufficient to protect a customer's account from disconnection of service so long as the customer complies with the terms of the payment arrangement and follows the requirements for renewal of the certification upon its expiration, as set forth in En 1205.02(f).

(b) A medical emergency certification shall be valid for the period of time designated by the licensed physician, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or licensed physician's assistant, or mental health practitioner as defined in RSA 330-A:2, VII, provided the certification is for no less than 90 days and no more than one year.

(c) There is no limit on the number of times a medical emergency certification may be renewed consistent with (b) above.

(d) Oral notification of the existence of a physical or mental health condition which would become a danger to the physical or mental health of the customer or household member may be provided to the utility by the customer and shall be sufficient to protect a customer's account from disconnection of service provided:

(1) Certification as described in (e) below from a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician's assistant, or mental health practitioner is received within 15 calendar days; and

(2) Any prior oral notification made within the past 12 months has been documented through certification as described in (e) below.

(e) Certification of a medical emergency by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician's assistant, or mental health practitioner shall:

(1) Contain a statement to the effect that the customer or identified member of the customer's household has a physical or mental health condition which would become a danger to the customer's or household member's physical or mental health should the utility service be disconnected;

(2) Be in writing, which includes any electronic communication, or be made by telephone with written or electronic confirmation received by the utility within 15 calendar days of the telephoned certification;

(3) Contain licensing information for the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician's assistant or mental health practitioner; and

(4) Indicate the medical necessity for and use of any life support equipment by the customer or identified member of the customer's household.

(f) All renewals of medical emergency certifications shall comply with (b) and (e) above.

(g) The medical emergency certification may be made through the completion of a form provided by the utility or another written or electronic format provided such other format complies with the provisions of (e) above.

(h) Upon being notified of the existence of a medical emergency in accordance with (d) or (e) above, the utility shall inform the customer in writing of the following:

(1) The customer's continuing obligation to pay for services;

(2) The requirement to enter into and comply with a payment arrangement consistent with En 1203.07 as a condition of the medical emergency certification;

(3) That failure to comply with any payment arrangement entered into with the utility will result in disconnection of service;

(4) The option to designate a third-party contact for communications with the utility regarding billing and other matters related to the customer's account;

(5) The customer's responsibility to renew any medical emergency certification on a timely basis to ensure continued service; and

(6) The need for the customer to plan for power outages that might occur.

(i) If certification of a medical emergency has not been provided within 15 days of receipt of oral notice from a customer or the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician's assistant, or mental health practitioner that a medical emergency would exist if utility service were disconnected, the utility shall send a reminder notice to the customer advising that such certification must be received within 15 days of the date of the reminder or disconnection will occur on a specified date at least 16 days from the date of the reminder notice.

(j) Provided the reminder notice described in (i) above contains the information required in En 1203.11(b)(2), the utility shall not be required to send a separate notice of disconnection.

(k) If the utility does not receive written or electronic certification of the medical emergency within the time period in (i) above, the utility may disconnect service in accordance with En 1203.11.

Notes

N.H. Admin. Code § En 1205.02

Derived from Number 24, Filed June 13, 2024, Proposed by #13986, Effective 5/30/2024, Expires5/30/2034 (see Revision Note at chapter heading for En 1200).