The SCE Medical Baseline Allowance isn’t income-based — it’s determined entirely by medical need, unlike SCE’s separate CARE or FERA discount programs. If you’ve seen guidance suggesting you need to “check income guidelines” to qualify or renew, that’s conflating two different programs; Medical Baseline eligibility depends only on whether a household member requires qualifying medical equipment or has a qualifying condition.
What the Program Actually Provides
The Medical Baseline Allowance (MBL) gives eligible households an additional 16.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day (plus 0.822 therms of natural gas per day for gas customers) at SCE’s lowest baseline rate, on top of your normal baseline allocation. If you’re on a non-baseline rate, you instead receive a flat 11% discount. The extra allowance applies whether you’re on a standard rate or a Time-of-Use plan — TOU-D PRIME customers specifically also qualify for that same flat 11% discount.
Who Actually Qualifies
You or another full-time resident in your household must meet at least one of these criteria:
- Requires regular use of electrically powered medical or life-support equipment that mechanically or artificially sustains life, or restores/replaces a vital physical function, including mobility (this covers a wide range of devices — dialysis machines, ventilators, motorized wheelchairs, and others)
- Is temperature-sensitive and needs air conditioning for medical reasons
- Has a life-threatening illness, compromised immune system, or other medical condition requiring heating or cooling
One important distinction: devices used for therapy but not medically required for sustaining life don’t qualify. Whether something like a CPAP machine qualifies depends on whether a licensed medical professional certifies it as medically necessary for your specific condition, not on the device type alone — there’s no blanket “CPAP discount” separate from standard MBL eligibility, despite what some third-party sites suggest.
How to Apply
You can apply online, providing your medical provider’s email address so SCE can send them a signature request directly. Alternatively, download the application, complete Part 1 yourself, and have your medical provider complete Part 2 (a licensed MD, DO, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner can sign). Mail completed paper applications to:
Southern California Edison Company
Medical Baseline Allowance Department
P.O. Box 9527
Azusa, CA 91702-9954
If approved, your allowance shows up on your bill within one to two billing cycles. Applications are also available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog, along with large-print and braille formats on request. If you’re a Kaiser Permanente patient, submit your application through your local Kaiser Release of Information department instead of directly to SCE.
Recertification: Don’t Let This Lapse
How often you need to renew depends on whether your condition is designated permanent or temporary:
- Permanent conditions: self-certify every four years. A doctor’s signature is not required for this renewal — you can complete it yourself, including through SCE’s automated phone system (IVR) at 1-866-229-9360.
- Temporary (non-permanent) conditions: renew every two years, with a medical professional’s certification required again at that point.
SCE sends a renewal notice before your scheduled date, but it’s worth marking your own calendar reminder as backup, since losing your allowance mid-billing-cycle because a renewal notice got missed is an avoidable problem.
Critical Care Backup Battery Program
MBL customers who live in a designated high fire-risk area are eligible for a separate, related benefit: a free, portable backup battery with solar panel charging, delivered and assembled at no cost. This matters specifically because SCE conducts Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in high fire-risk areas during extreme weather, and MBL customers receive advance notification of these planned outages — the backup battery is designed to keep essential medical equipment running through a shutoff. This program is not automatically included with MBL enrollment everywhere; it’s tied to fire-risk area designation specifically, so check sce.com/ccbb to see if your address qualifies.
If Your Standard Allowance Isn’t Enough
If 16.5 kWh per day doesn’t cover your household’s actual medical equipment needs, contact SCE directly at 1-800-447-6620 to discuss additional amounts — this isn’t a fixed, non-negotiable number for every household.
Bottom Line
If you or someone in your household relies on qualifying medical equipment, apply through sce.com directly rather than a third-party form, since the medical professional signature and documentation requirements need to go straight to SCE’s Medical Baseline Department. Mark your recertification date based on whether your condition is permanent or temporary, and if you’re in a high fire-risk area, check separately whether you qualify for the free Critical Care Backup Battery Program — it’s a distinct benefit, not something added automatically to every MBL account.
FAQ
Is SCE Medical Baseline based on household income?
No. Eligibility is based entirely on medical need — requiring qualifying medical equipment or having a qualifying health condition — not household income. Income-based discounts are handled through SCE’s separate CARE and FERA programs.
How much extra electricity does Medical Baseline provide?
An additional 16.5 kWh of electricity per day at the lowest baseline rate (plus 0.822 therms of natural gas per day for gas customers), on top of your standard baseline allocation. Non-baseline rate customers get a flat 11% discount instead.
How often do I need to renew my Medical Baseline enrollment?
Every four years if your condition is certified as permanent (self-certification, no doctor signature needed), or every two years if it’s certified as temporary, which requires a new medical professional certification each time.
Who qualifies for the free Critical Care Backup Battery?
Current Medical Baseline customers who live in a designated high fire-risk area. It’s not automatically included for all MBL customers — check sce.com/ccbb to see if your address qualifies.
What if 16.5 kWh per day isn’t enough for my medical equipment?
Contact SCE at 1-800-447-6620 to discuss additional allowance amounts. The standard 16.5 kWh isn’t a fixed cap for every household’s actual needs.
