Medical Baseline Program

Residential customers enrolled in the Medical Baseline Program and on any tiered rates (e.g., E-1, EM or E-TOU-C) receive the Baseline Allowance. This is an additional allotment of energy every month at the lowest price available on their rate.

The additional allotment of energy is roughly 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and/or 25 therms of gas per month. This amount depends on the customer’s energy needs. These needs must be verified by a medical practitioner during certification.

To be approved for the Medical Baseline Program, you must continue to pay your monthly PG&E bill. Your utility services could be disconnected if you stop making payments.

 Note: Customers on electric vehicle rates do not receive an additional monthly allotment of energy. These rates do not have a Baseline Allowance. However, you could still save on one of these rates. This depends on when and how much energy you use.

Medical Baseline customers on the Electric Home (E-ELEC) and E-TOU-D rates may be eligible to receive a 12% discount (D-MEDICAL) on their electric charges. For more information, go to the Applicability section of the D-MEDICAL Tariff (PDF).

Severe weather, such as high winds, can cause trees or debris to damage equipment. If there is dry vegetation, this could lead to a wildfire. That's why we may need to turn power off to keep you safe. This temporary outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Our goal is to send customer alerts at:

• 48 hours
• 24 hours
• Just prior to shutting off power

Based on your contact preferences, we will send you alerts via:

• Automated calls
• Texts
• Emails

Medical Baseline customers will receive additional alerts. This may include multiple texts, phone calls or even a door-bell ring. Please acknowledge the alert. It is important to answer phone alerts or reply to text alerts so we know you have received them.

Learn about PSPS events.

Learn about resources available to support throughout a PSPS.

Any medical device used to sustain life or relied upon for mobility

• Must be determined by a licensed qualified medical practitioner
• Must be used in the home

 Note: In general equipment used for therapy does not qualify for Medical Baseline.

Life support equipment includes:

• Respirators (oxygen concentrators)
• Iron lungs
• Hemodialysis machines
• Suction machines
• Electric nerve stimulators
• Pressure pads and pumps
• Aerosol tents
• Electrostatic and ultrasonic nebulizers
• Compressors
• Intermittent sensitive pressure breathing (IPPB) machines
• Motorized wheelchairs

Qualified medical practitioners include:

• Licensed physicians
• Surgeons
• Persons licensed pursuant to the Osteopathic Initiative Act per California Public Utilities Code §739
• Nurse practitioners consistent with PG&E’s current practice and as now provided in California Public Utilities Codes & §799.3
• A licensed physician assistant working as a part of the customer’s physician team

You’ll receive a welcome email or letter. Once you have been enrolled, you will be able to check your status in two places:

Your account

1. Log into your online account.
   
2. Go to your account dashboard.
3. Look for "Enrolled in Medical Baseline."
4. Select the "Learn More" link for more information about your status.

Your bill

1. Open your paper energy statement.
2. Look for either "Life Support" and/or "Medical" on the lower lefthand side of your bill under "Enrolled Programs." 

We will mail you a letter if:

• Your Medical Baseline application has been denied, or
• You have been removed from the Medical Baseline program because you failed to self-certify or recertify.

To unenroll from the Medical Baseline or Life Support program: 

• Sign into your account.
• Select "Enrolled in Medical Baseline" in the menu.
• Select "Unenroll."
• Confirm your unenrollment.
  

You can also call 1-877-660-6789 and ask to be removed.

Submit your paper self-certification form by mail:

1. The Medical Baseline Self-Certification form is included with your renewal notification letter. You may also print a copy of the self-certification form (PDF).
2. Complete form and sign it.
3. Mail your completed form to:

   PG&E Billing Center
   Medical Baseline
   P.O. Box 8329
   Stockton, CA 95208

 Note: At this time, it is not possible to email your form.

You cannot check the status of your application while it being processed. Once you have been enrolled, you will be able to check your status in two places:

Your account

1. Log into your online account.
   
2. Go to your account dashboard.
3. Look for "Enrolled in Medical Baseline."
4. Select the "Learn More" link for more information about your status.

Your bill

1. Open your paper energy statement.
2. Look for either "Life Support" and/or "Medical" on the lower lefthand side of your bill under "Enrolled Programs." 

1. Self-certification helps confirm where you live and your contact preferences.
   • Self-certification is required every four years for Medical Baseline customers with permanent medical conditions.
   • Your medical condition must be determined permanent by a medical practitioner.
2. Re-certification helps confirm you still need assistance.
   • Customers with non-permanent conditions must recertify every two years.
   • This requires a medical practitioner's signature.

If you stop service at your old address and start service at your new address at the same time:

• Your Medical Baseline Program will be transferred to your new address.

If you request to stop service at your old address today and start service at your new address later:

• Your Medical Baseline Program will NOT be transferred to your new address.
  

 Note: Please call at 1-877-660-6789 and ask us to transfer your Medical Baseline Program to your new address.

You don't have to visit your medical practitioner's office to apply to PG&E's Medical Baseline program. Instead:

1. Go to the Application section on this page.
2. Follow the instructions and guidelines for online applications

Yes. Eligibility is not based on income. It is solely based on medical needs. Your eligibility or enrollment in other assistance programs do not affect your ability to get Medical Baseline.

See the Application section on this page for more information on how to apply.

You could be given extra Medical Baseline energy allotments after evaluation. This depends on:

• Your rate plan
• Your medical-related energy needs 

Eligible Medical Baseline customers who are on tiered rate plans (i.e., E1, E-TOU-C, G1, etc.) may receive a “standard” Medical Baseline quantity of roughly:

• 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and/or
• 25 therms of gas per month

This quantity is in addition to regular Baseline quantities of their current rate.

You might be eligible for more than one standard Medical Baseline Allotment depending on:

• Your medical needs
• The number of medical devices you are using 

Call PG&E at 1-877-660-6789. Request to be evaluated for an extra Medical Baseline allotment. Only one Medical Baseline application per household is required.

 Note: Extra allotments of electricity only work with electric rate plans with baseline allowances (e.g., E1, E-TOU-C, etc.). Customers on D-MEDICAL (e.g., E-ELEC) receive a flat 12% discount on their electric charges irrespective of the number of allotments.

Eligible Medical Baseline customers may receive a “standard” Medical Baseline quantity. This is roughly:

• 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity if they are on a rate plan with a baseline, and/or
• 25 therms of gas per month

This quantity is in addition to regular Baseline quantities of their current rate. This additional energy allotment is provided at the lowest price on your current rate. 

Customers on the Electric Home (E-ELEC) and E-TOU-D rates may be eligible to receive 12% discount (D-MEDICAL) on their electric charges.

To see if you qualify, visit the Applicability section of the D-MEDICAL Tariff (PDF).

The number of residents with medical needs who live in the address does not matter. PG&E only requires one Medical Baseline application per household. You might be eligible for more than one standard Medical Baseline Allotment depending on:

• Your medical needs
• The number of medical devices used by Medical Baseline customers at the same address

Contact us at 1-877-660-6789. Ask us for an additional Medical Baseline allotment. We will see if you qualify. Medical Baseline allotments are not automatically granted.

No. Medical Baseline eligibility is solely based on medical needs. You can enroll in Medical Baseline whether you are on Medi-Cal or not. 

Review the Application section on this page for more information on how to apply.

No. Some physical therapy devices do not qualify for Medical Baseline. These include saunas and hot tubs. A medical device must be “used to sustain life or used for mobility” to qualify.
Review this complete list of qualifying medical devices.