Protecting essential power if you rely on medical equipment

Key rules

• Request it: The protection is not automatic: you must apply for the status through your electricity retailer.
• Debt: Unpaid bills stay owed even when your supply is protected.
• Main home: The supply point must be in your main home.
• Backup: Protection does not cover faults or outages, so keep a battery or backup device.

Conditions for the medical report vary by region, so confirm the exact requirements and your registration with your electricity retailer and regional health service.

What the protection gives you

Your electricity cannot be cut for non-payment if you depend on medical equipment for life or health, but you must request this status. The protection does not cancel what you owe. Unpaid bills stay due.

It applies to the contract holder and to the supply point, and the supply must be in your main home. It does not stop power cuts from faults, storms or grid works.

How to get the status

Do these steps in order:

1. Get a medical report. Ask your doctor for a certificate or report from the public health service or your regional health authority. It must say you depend on electromedical equipment.
2. Send it to your electricity retailer. Include the contract holder's details and your CUPS. The retailer passes the information to the distributor, which flags your supply point as protected.
3. Ask for written confirmation that your supply point is registered as protected. Keep it with your contract.

The exact conditions for accepting the report are set by each region's health authority. Ask your regional health service or your retailer what they require. The documents and checklist below list what to prepare.

Build a backup plan

The protection stops a cut for non-payment. It does not keep the power on in a fault. Plan for hours without electricity:

• Ask your equipment supplier about a UPS (an uninterruptible power supply), a battery or a portable device. It should cover the hours you might be without power.
• Test the battery regularly and check its charge.
• Agree an emergency plan with your health service or home-care provider.
• Keep your distributor's fault number and 112 where you can find them fast. In a long outage, call 112.

Check before you rely on it

Rules for this status can vary by region. Confirm with your retailer in writing that you are registered before you count on the protection.

Documents you need

• A medical certificate or report from the public health service or regional health authority, stating that you depend on electromedical equipment for life or health continuity.

• Your electricity contract holder details and the CUPS, the code that identifies your supply point, both found on your electricity bill.

• Written confirmation from your electricity retailer that your supply point is registered as protected.

Checklist

• Ask your doctor for a report stating that you depend on electromedical equipment.

• Send the report, the contract holder details and your CUPS to your electricity retailer.

• Request written confirmation that your supply point is registered as protected.

• Save the distributor's fault number and 112 where you can find them quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Does the protection cancel the debt on my electricity bills?

No, the protection stops the cut but unpaid bills stay owed. It covers the contract holder and the supply point, and the supply must be in your main home. Keep paying or arrange payment of what you owe.

Who gives me the medical report for my electricity supplier?

Your public health service or regional health authority gives you the report, usually through your doctor. It must state that you depend on electromedical equipment for life or health continuity. The conditions for accreditation are set by each region, so ask your health centre.

What should I do in a long power outage if I use medical equipment?

Switch to your backup battery or UPS and call 112 if the outage is prolonged. Also call the distributor's fault number and your home-care provider, who can agree an emergency plan with you.