In an outage-related medical emergency, Black Hills Energy's 24-hour emergency number is 1-800-694-8989.

Medical Extension Program

Who is eligible

The Medical Extension Certificate Program is for residential customers whose utility service is medically essential, as certified by a licensed physician, to avoid death or serious medical complications requiring immediate hospitalization.

What the program offers

The program offers qualifying customers the following:

• Referrals to social service agencies that provide financial assistance
• A limited extension of time to pay their bills

What the program does not guarantee

The program does not exempt customers from paying their utility service bill.

The program does not guarantee uninterrupted service. In the event of an unplanned outage situation, Black Hills Energy cannot guarantee service restoration beyond its normal efforts to restore service. The company will make every effort to restore utility service as quickly as possible.

• The company's service restoration policy is as follows: Service work begins with the repair of major transmission or distribution lines prior to individual service lines. This allows the company to restore service to as many people as possible in a timely manner.
• Customers with needs requiring utility service to avoid serious medical complications should make arrangements in advance to have backup equipment and/or power supply on hand as well as a planned course of action to be able to quickly move to a location where their needs can be met.
• Medical extensions do not apply to initial connections and are only valid for the customer's current premises.

Requesting an application

Customers who are eligible to participate in the program should contact Black Hills Energy at 1-888-890-5554 to provide an account specific form for their physician to complete. A generic form can be downloaded here.

Once the physician has completed the form, it is to be faxed to 1-800-540-2486 for processing.

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Life Support Program

Who is eligible

The Life Support Program is for residential electric customers who use electrically powered medical equipment for life support, are homebound or bed ridden, and cannot readily leave the home without assistance.

What the program offers

The Life Support designation enables Black Hills Energy to provide information to specific customers, as necessary, which contains tips and tools for making it safely through an electrical outage.

What the program does not guarantee

The program does not give an extension or exempt customers from paying their bills.

The program does not guarantee uninterrupted service. In the event of an unplanned electrical outage situation, Black Hills Energy cannot guarantee service restoration beyond its normal efforts to restore service. The company will make every effort to restore utility service as quickly as possible.

• The company's service restoration policy is as follows: Service work begins with the repair of major transmission lines prior to individual service lines. This allows the company to restore service to as many people as possible in a timely manner.
• Customers requiring electrical service to avoid serious medical complications should have an emergency plan in place in the event electrical service is interrupted. Arrange to have backup equipment and an alternate power supply on hand, or make arrangements to stay at an alternate location where your needs can be met.

Requesting an application

To qualify for the Life Support Program you must complete an application and have it signed by a licensed physician. Contact Black Hills Energy at 1-888-890-5554 to get an application mailed to you. The completed application can be mailed or faxed to Black Hills Energy.

Black Hills Energy
Attn: Customer Account Correspondence
PO Box 6006
Rapid City, SD 57709
Fax: 1-800-540-2486

Reapplication annually is required.

Tips for users of electric powered medically essential equipment

Portable generators can supply emergency back-up power. Before you invest in one, ask a certified electrician for information about a unit that is best suited for your residence and your medical condition. Use a licensed electrician to install any back-up power source and specify that National Electric Code requirements must be met.

Have an automatic transfer switch installed to guard against power surges that can feed electricity back into power lines.

Don't connect a portable generator to your home's main electrical panel or plug a generator into a household electrical outlet.

Make sure generators are located outside your home to avoid toxic fumes that can cause health issues.

If you live alone, arrange for a relative, friend or neighbor to check in on you during severe weather.

Keep Black Hills Energy's 24-hour emergency number, 1-800-694-8989, handy to contact us regarding an outage or emergency.

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