Medical energy needs
Medical Baseline program help.
If someone at home relies on medical equipment or has a condition that increases energy needs, your utility may offer extra support. Here's how these programs generally work.
The short answer
Medical Baseline programs are offered by California utilities for households with qualifying medical needs. They generally provide an extra amount of energy at a lower price and some utilities send enrolled customers extra alerts before planned safety power shutoffs. A qualified medical practitioner must certify the need, and your utility decides eligibility.
Who this is for
California households where someone uses medical equipment at home or has a medical condition that affects heating, cooling or energy use. This page is general information, not medical advice.
What Medical Baseline programs generally provide
Details differ by utility, so check your utility's program page for what's offered.
Extra energy at a lower price
An additional allotment of electricity and, where applicable, gas billed at a lower rate.
Outage alerts
Some utilities, such as PG&E, send enrolled customers additional alerts before a Public Safety Power Shutoff and ask them to confirm they received them.
Support resources
Utilities may point enrolled customers to backup power or preparedness resources.
Eligibility depends on your utility's rules
Programs typically cover certain types of medical equipment and some medical conditions that require extra heating or cooling. The exact list, and what counts, is set by your utility. We can't tell you whether you qualify — only your utility can.
How applying usually works
Find the Medical Baseline page on your utility's website.
Complete the application with your account information.
A qualified medical practitioner completes the medical certification section.
Submit it to your utility and watch for confirmation. Utilities may require recertification every few years; SCE, for example, lists every two to four years unless the condition is certified as permanent.
Finding the right program for your utility
Your program is run by the utility that sends your bill. Start with its website, or call the customer service number on your bill. If you get electricity from one company and gas from another, you may need to check with both.
My Wattie · Coming Soon
A plain-language helper for your bill.
My Wattie, our upcoming AI-powered utility companion, is being designed to help households find programs like Medical Baseline and understand the steps in plain language. It won't give medical advice, and it isn't available yet.
Meet My Wattie and join early accessCommon questions
Do I need a doctor's form for Medical Baseline?
Yes — a qualified medical practitioner must certify the medical need on your utility's application. The application explains exactly what's required.
Can I have Medical Baseline and CARE at the same time?
They are separate programs with separate applications. Ask your utility whether your household can be enrolled in both.
Official sources to verify
Program rules, amounts and deadlines can change. Always confirm current details with the official program or your utility.
Want help figuring out next steps?
Tell us about your home and utility, and we'll help you see which programs may be worth checking.
Utility Bill Advocates is an independent company. We are not a utility company or government agency. Program availability and eligibility vary. We never ask for your Social Security number, banking information or utility login.