Medical Certificate to Protect Your Lights

A medical certificate tells your light company that cutting your power would put someone in your household at serious medical risk. Once you have one on file, your light company cannot disconnect you for non-payment without giving you extra time and notice.

What it does:

• Delays disconnection for up to 63 days (Critical Care) while you pay or find help
• Requires 21 days written notice before they can disconnect you (instead of the standard 10)
• Puts you on the TDU's Critical Care registry so they prioritize your address during outages
• Forces prepaid customers to be moved to traditional billing at no charge

What it does NOT do:

• It does not forgive your bill. You still owe every dollar.
• It does not guarantee power during storms or grid failures.
• It does not last forever. You must renew it.
• It does not protect you if you refuse to set up a payment plan.

For the official Critical Care/Chronic Condition registry application:

• Medical Doctor (MD) — Yes
• Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) — Yes
• Physician Assistant (PA) — Usually yes, but check with your TDU
• Nurse Practitioner (NP) — Usually yes, but check with your TDU

For an emergency 63-day delay under Rule 25.483(g), the definition is broader. The physician can be any licensed medical professional who can attest that disconnection would cause the patient to become seriously ill. This includes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and public health officials.

The physician must submit the form directly to the TDU. Forms sent by the customer are often rejected to prevent fraud. Have your doctor's office fax or email it directly.

Medical protections expire. If you do not renew, you lose protection immediately and revert to standard disconnection rules.

The TDU is supposed to send a renewal notice 45 days before expiration. Do not rely on this. Set your own calendar reminder. Renewal requires a new form signed by your physician — same process as the original application.

If you cannot get the official PUCT form processed in time, your doctor can send a letter like this to trigger the emergency delay:

This is a stop-gap for emergencies. Follow up with the official PUCT form as soon as possible.

If you live in a "bills paid" apartment or sub-metered property where the landlord controls the lights, different rules apply.

Under Texas Property Code 92.008, your landlord cannot interrupt your lights if:

1. You provide a written statement from a physician, nurse, or health practitioner stating someone in your home will become seriously ill if service is interrupted
2. You enter into a deferred payment plan with the landlord

Give the medical letter directly to your landlord or property manager. Keep a copy with proof of delivery. If they still shut off your lights, contact a tenant's rights organization or call the PUCT for guidance.

This is a gray area. The medical registry is designed for physical dependence on electricity — medical devices and temperature control.

Mental health conditions do not automatically qualify for Critical Care or Chronic Condition status. However:

• If the patient requires a specific electric medical device (like a light therapy box for severe depression)
• If the patient requires strict temperature control to prevent a physical crisis
• If a physician certifies that disconnection would cause the patient to become "seriously ill"

In those cases, a physician may be able to invoke the 63-day delay under Rule 25.483(g). This is a temporary delay, not a permanent registry status. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation.

If your light company disconnects you despite having a valid medical certificate, or refuses to honor your protections, file a complaint with the PUCT immediately.