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CWLP's Vital Health Care Service

CWLP's Vital Health Care (VHC) Service is designed to identify utility customers (or permanent residents of their households) with qualifying life support devices in the event of a power outage or impending or current service disconnection related to a past due account. The purpose of this service is to try to maintain or restore electric and/or water service as quickly as possible to persons who rely on those services for medical reasons when possible. However, the program does not guarantee uninterrupted service nor that higher priority power restoration is always possible.

Customers on CWLP’s Vital Health Care Service could still experience power outages that are days long and should have alternative plans for powering life support devices. As unplanned power outages can always occur due to weather and other factors, customers with life support dependent devices, which rely on electricity are recommended to inquire with equipment suppliers on backup power supply options such as batteries or other types of equipment that could be used temporarily instead. Making plans for emergency events for alternate locations to go where power sources can be available is another good measure.


VHC Program Qualifications

All customers requesting participation in CWLP's Vital Health Care Service must contact Customer Service in person (Room 101 Municipal Center West, 300 S. Seventh Street) or by phone 217.789.2030 to request a Vital Health Care application form.

A Life Support Dependent Customer is defined as a person who has been prescribed, by a registered physician, licensed by the State of Illinois, as a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy, to require an electrical device and/ or equipment designed specifically to sustain that person's life. Qualifying customers are approved for participation in Vital Health Care for a period of one year. Subsequent one-year renewals are allowed.

The following equipment qualifies for Vital Health Care Program:

  • In home dialysis machine
  • Apnea monitor for infants
  • Oxygen concentrator
  • Respirator
  • Ventilator
  • Pressure breathing therapy (bi-pap) – uses distilled water only
  • Infusion feeding pump
  • Peritoneal dialysis machine
  • Defibrillator
  • The Vital Health Care Program does not guarantee uninterrupted electric or other utility services but will be used to provide important information to CWLP during power outages.


If you have a past due CWLP bill, before participating in CWLP's VHC program, you must contact the CWLP Customer Service Office to make a payment arrangement within 30 days of the date on your approval letter.

The Vital Health Care Program does not guarantee uninterrupted electric or other utility services but will be used to provide important information to CWLP during power outages.

How to Participate in CWLP's Vital Health Care Program

  • Contact Customer Service in person (Room 101 Municipal Center West, 300 S. Seventh Street) or by phone 217.789.2030 to request a Vital Health Care Doctor's Form. The form may also be requested by your doctor's office on your behalf, in which case the form, along with a cover letter containing instructions, will be sent directly to the doctor.
  • Fill out the top portion of the form and have your doctor complete the bottom portion of the form. Have the doctor fax, email or mail the form to CWLP, as quickly as possible. It is essential that all required information be provided; otherwise approval of your program participation may be delayed or denied.
  • You will be notified by letter whether you have been approved or denied.
  • If your account is in arrears, you must contact the CWLP Customer Service Office to set up a payment arrangement within 30 days of the date on your program approval or denial letter. Failure to do so could result in service disconnection.
  • If you are approved for VHC, the Customer Service Office will contact you by mail one month prior to your annual renewal date. Renewal is not automatic. You must have your doctor complete and return a renewal form promptly in order to avoid interruption in your program participation.
  • If you are denied for the VHC program and need an additional 30-day disconnection hold in order to complete your payment arrangement and become current on your CWLP bill, you must request the extension and have your doctor complete another VHC form. You will be allowed no more than two 30-day holds in a 12-month period.