Life support

Let us know immediately if you or anyone living at your address uses life support equipment.

What is life support equipment?

Life support equipment is an electrically powered device that assists with a life-threatening medical condition.

It includes any medical equipment which requires a constant supply of electricity such as:

  • oxygen concentrator
  • continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) machine
  • intermittent peritoneal dialysis machine
  • kidney dialysis machine
  • chronic positive airways pressure respirator
  • Crigler Najjar Syndrome phototherapy equipment
  • ventilator
  • any other equipment that a registered medical practitioner certifies as required for a person residing at the customer’s premises for life support.

Life support register

You qualify to be listed on the life support register if your property requires constant electricity to power equipment or appliances which sustain life. The need for such equipment or appliances must be confirmed by your doctor.

Registering for life support does not mean uninterrupted power. It means that our network provider will let you know in advance of any planned outages in your area.

This is to allow you to have enough time to carry out alternative arrangements to power your life support equipment.

Register for life support 

Step 1: Let us know

  • Tell us immediately if life support equipment is used at your address.
  • You can do this by calling 1800 522 262 or emailing customercare@jacanaenergy.com.au.
  • Jacana Energy will add your address to the life support register within 1 business day and notify your network provider of this.

Step 2: Provide us with a completed medical form

  • You must provide us with a completed life support medical confirmation form. Section 4 of the form must be completed by a licensed medical practitioner.
  • Return the completed and signed medical form to us by the due date via email or post:

Deregistration of a premises

 You will be removed from the life support register if either:

  • a completed medical confirmation form has not been provided to Jacana Energy by the required due date
  • you notify either Jacana Energy or the network provider of a change in circumstances and that you no longer require your address listed on the Life Support Register.

Prepare for power outages

Both planned and unplanned power outages can occur, and you must always have an emergency plan for these.

The network provider will notify registered life support customers days in advance of any planned power outages.

Unplanned power outages such as due to extreme weather are rare but carry risk to life support customers.

Emergency plan

  • Have a source of backup power, such as a battery or generator.
  • Know how your life support equipment works: when it turns off, how to restart it, and whether it can operate from alternative sources of power.
  • Make arrangements with friends, family, or neighbours to assist you during a power outage.
  • Keep your phone charged and have an emergency source for recharging like a power bank.
  • Have a torch and supply of fresh batteries available.

More information and contact

In an emergency, call 000 or the Power and Water Corporation emergency line on 1800 245 090.

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