Your safety is our priority. While our risk of wildfire is low in our service area, we encourage customers to be prepared for a possible emergency. Learn more at smud.org/Wildfire.
Medical equipment discount
If you have higher electricity costs because of your medical equipment, we may be able to help.
We understand that although some medical equipment is necessary for your health, it can be expensive to run. To help eligible customers, we designed our Medical Equipment Discount Rate (MED Rate) program, which gives you a $15 per month discount on your monthly bill.
Our MED Rate covers:
- In-home dialysis cycler
- Electric wheelchair
- Oxygen concentrator
- Ventilator (not a CPAP or BIPAP machine)
- Extraordinary heating or air-conditioning needs due to a medical condition
Obtener información acerca de nuestro programa de descuentos MED Tarifa en español.
If the discount does not meet your medical-electricity needs, you can email us or call 1-888-742-7683.
Additional programs
- Energy Assistance Program Rate (EAPR) – This monthly discount for low-income households can be combined with the MED Rate program. This will help you get the most savings every month.
- Vulnerable Population Program – Even if you're ineligible for the MED Rate, you can still opt in to receive more communication before and potentially during a planned outage.
- Customers enrolled in MED Rate are automatically included in the Vulnerable Population Program.
Common MED Rate questions
By mail
- Download and print the MED Rate application.
- Complete and sign sections 1-3.
- A qualified health professional must complete and sign section 4.
- Mail completed application to:
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
MED Rate, Mail Stop A104
P.O. Box 15830
Sacramento, CA 95852-0830
Applications without a qualified health professional signature will be returned.
SMUD knows how important reliable electric service is to our customers, especially those using medical equipment. We make every effort to prevent outages, but please be prepared.
- Keep phone numbers of emergency response agencies (e.g. 911, hospital, fire department, police) in a convenient location, in the event emergency assistance is needed.
- Ensure batteries are fully charged each day if you use a battery-powered medical device and keep extra batteries handy.
- Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy.
- Have a back-up telephone that does not rely on electricity and battery-powered radio on hand.
- Have an alternative plan in place to ensure the continuity of any medical needs. This may include making special arrangements to spend time with a friend or relative during an outage.
- Enroll in our Vulnerable Population Program to receive more communications and advance notice of a wildfire-related de-energization event.
Portable generators can be handy, but they do pose risks. Keep yourself and our workers safe by learning to use a generator correctly.
If not properly installed, generators can send electricity back through dead power lines and electrocute you or an electric utility worker.
When using a generator, you need to make certain that no electricity is flowing back into SMUD lines. The law says you are responsible for any injuries or damage to your property, your neighbor’s property or SMUD’s property from an improperly installed or improperly operated generator.
If you would like more information about generators or other power outage emergency preparedness tips, visit smud.org/safety or call SMUD at 1-888-742-7683.