Medical Equipment
If you or someone in your household has medical equipment that requires electricity, it’s important to make a plan in case of an outage.
We encourage you to contact Avista to be put on our medical needs list. Call (888) 700-2757 and let our CARES team know you have a medical need. Your information will be added to a list of customers who receive extra notifications in case of an extended outage.
Outages can happen for many reasons, including weather, planned maintenance or equipment failure. While Avista crews will work to restore power as quickly and safely as possible, it’s important to plan ahead in case power restoration takes longer than usual.
Be prepared to seek medical assistance for any health-related emergency.
Ask your physician about alternative measures to take if your power is interrupted. Pre-arrange transportation needs and to stay with friends or relatives should it become necessary.
Research if a home generator is appropriate for your situation. Visit a hardware store or talk to a licensed electrician about options. Learn more about home generator safety.
Be aware that many natural gas furnaces and water heaters require electricity to operate. Contact a licensed electrician in advance who can make modifications for powering them during an outage.
Customers who have in-home equipment that requires electricity to sustain human life might be eligible for additional support from Avista. Contact the CARES team at (888) 700-2757or email caresqueue@avistacorp.com. A physician’s form may be required for Life Support status.
Examples of in-home life support equipment include but are not limited to:
- Dialysis equipment
- Ventilators
- Infant apnea monitors
- Feeding or infusion pumps
- Suction machines
- Oxygen concentrators
- Ventricular assist devices
Please note, completing the actions above are not a guarantee of service and does not give priority in restoration efforts. Avista strongly suggests that customers have an appropriate emergency plan in place for their medical needs.