Utilicare is a program that provides a defined quantity of electricity at reduced rates to any household with a full-time resident who requires certain medically necessary electric equipment. This program is available to any household served by Riverside Public Utilities that has a full-time resident who regularly requires the use of one of the following electric appliances for medical reasons:
- An essential electric medical device. (see qualifying devices below)
- Permanently installed electric space heating for paraplegic, quadriplegic, hemiplegic or multiple sclerosis patients
- Permanently installed electric air conditioning for a multiple sclerosis or scleroderma patient
What are the Benefits?
At Riverside Public Utilities, we understand that certain medical conditions require the use of electric devices or appliances. This may cause your electric consumption to increase beyond normal patterns. To help offset the added expenses a medical condition of this nature places on the household budget, Utilicare offers you a reduced electric rate for the use of certain medical equipment.
Important Notice
Although Riverside Public Utilities will make every effort to supply uninterrupted service, continuous service cannot be guaranteed. In the event of a power outage, patients requiring the use of life support equipment are responsible for providing their own backup power system. Utilicare participants are also required to complete a third party notification form for emergency purposes. Program participation does not guarantee service on delinquent or past due accounts.
How Do I Apply?
A separate program application and physician's certification of medical condition are required. Call Customer Service at 951-782-0330 to request a Utilicare application.
Typical Qualifying Medical Devices
- Aerosol tent
- Apnea monitor
- Blood pump
- Compressor/concentrator
- Electric nerve stimulator
- Electrostatic nebulizer
- Extremity pump
- Heating device for respirator
- Hemodialysis machine
- Heparin pump
- Hospital bed
- Infusion pump/hyperalimentation
- IPPB machine
- Iron lung
- Motorized wheelchair
- Oxygen concentrator
- Portable volume ventilator
- Pressure pad
- Pressure pump
- Respirator
- Reverse osmosis system
- Suction device
- Ultrasonic nebulizer
