Michigan Administrative Code
Department - Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Public Service Commission
Consumer Standards And Billing Practices For Electric And Gas Residential Service
Part 7 - ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND SHUTOFF PROTECTION PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
Section R. 460.130a - Critical care customer shut off protection

(1) A utility shall restore or refrain from shutting off utility service to a critical care customer due to an inability to pay a utility bill where an interruption of service would be immediately life threatening.

(2) On an annual basis, a critical care customer shall provide the utility with an updated commission-approved medical certification form certifying his or her continued status as a critical care customer. If the customers status as a critical care customer ends, a customer or occupant of the household shall notify the utility of the change in status.

(3) A utility shall provide a critical care customer with a grace period of 3 business days during which it shall postpone the shutoff of utility service to the critical care customer to allow the customer time to obtain a completed commission-approved medical certification form.

(4) Upon request, a utility shall provide and make available on its website a commission-approved medical certification form for use in obtaining a physicians or medical facilitys certification demonstrating the customers status as a critical care customer. Upon receipt of the medical certification form, the utility shall notify the customer that it has received the form.

(5) A utility shall maintain a special file on critical care customers and an appropriate identification of such customers for the purpose of ensuring that utility service is provided for as long as the customer remains a critical care customer and the customers inability to pay continues.

(6) When a utility has notice of a critical care customer for whom a planned service interruption would be immediately life threatening, the utility shall notify the customer of the planned service interruption and shall not shut off service using remote shutoff capability without first initiating person-to-person contact with the customer.

(7) Nothing in this rule relieves the customer of his or her obligation to pay for utility service. A utility may require that the customer enter into a reasonable payment plan.

(8) Nothing in this rule shall prohibit a utility that observes an unsafe connection at a customer's location caused by unauthorized use of electric or natural gas service, from implementing measures to cure or address the unsafe connection pursuant to section 9d(1) of 1939 PA 3, MCL 460.9d(1).