Who can join the Priority Services Register?

Ofgem broadened the criteria so anyone in a vulnerable situation who needs extra support can join — including if you're of pensionable age, have a disability or long-term health condition (including hearing, sight or mental health conditions), are seriously ill, rely on electricity for medical equipment or refrigerated medicine, or have children under five. It also covers temporary situations — for example if you're recovering from an operation, have recently been bereaved, or are going through a difficult time — so you can join for a while and come off later.

How do I register for priority services?

Contact your energy supplier (gas and electricity — register with each if they're different companies) and ask to be added to their Priority Services Register. Also register with your local electricity network operator, who handles power cuts (you can reach them by calling 105 free), and with your water company, which runs its own register. Each provider has its own register, so it's worth doing all of them. Registering is free, takes a few minutes, and you can update or remove your details any time.

Does the Priority Services Register protect against scams?

It helps. As part of the register you can set up a password scheme — you agree a password with your supplier, and a genuine engineer visiting your home will know it (or show a picture ID card). If someone at your door can't give the password, you know not to let them in. This is a simple, effective protection against bogus callers who target people they think are vulnerable. If you're ever unsure about a call, text or doorstep visit, check it before acting.

Priority Services Register: free support

Q: What is the Priority Services Register?

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service that gives extra help and support from your energy, electricity-network and water suppliers if you're in a vulnerable situation. It can include advance notice of planned power cuts, priority help and a welfare check if the power goes off, a password scheme so you can be sure a caller is genuine, bills and meter readings in accessible formats or to a nominated person, and help if you rely on medical equipment. It costs nothing to join, and you can sign up for all or just some of the services.

Q: What help do I get in a power cut?

If you're on the register, your electricity network operator can give you advance warning of planned power cuts, keep you updated during an unplanned one, and provide extra support — such as sending someone to check on you, arranging hot meals, or helping with alternative heating or cooking in a long outage. If you depend on electricity for medical equipment, tell them so they can prioritise you. In any power cut you can call 105 free to report it and get help.

What the PSR actually is

The Priority Services Register is a free service every energy and water supplier must offer. If you’re in a vulnerable situation, it flags your account so the supplier — and the network that keeps your power and water flowing — gives you extra care when it matters.

It’s not a benefit or a discount — it’s practical support and safety. You choose which services you want, and you can add or remove them any time.

Why it’s worth 10 minutesMost people who could join never do — often because they don’t know it exists or assume it’s only for others. If a power cut, a bogus caller, or hard-to-read bills would be a real problem for you or someone you care for, this is free protection that’s already there for the asking.

Who can join

Ofgem broadened the criteria so that anyone in a vulnerable situation who needs extra support can join — not just a fixed list. You’re likely to qualify if you (or someone in your household):

are of pensionable age;
have a disability or long-term health condition — including hearing, sight or mental health conditions;
rely on electricity for medical equipment or refrigerated medicine;
are seriously ill or recovering;
have children under five;
are going through a temporary difficult time — recovering from an operation, recently bereaved, or a change in circumstances.

Temporary situations countYou don’t need a permanent condition. If you’ve just come home from hospital, had a new baby, or are caring for someone, you can join for as long as you need the extra support — and come off later.

What you get

Power-cut priority — advance notice of planned cuts, updates during an unplanned one, and extra support (a welfare check, hot meals, or help with heating/cooking in a long outage).
Password / ID scheme — agree a password so you know a caller is genuine; real engineers can give it or show a picture ID card. Simple, strong protection against bogus callers.
Accessible bills & communications — large print, braille, audio, or sent to a nominated friend, relative or carer.
Meter help — help reading your meter, or moving it if it’s hard to reach.
Medical-equipment priority — extra care if you depend on electricity for medical or mobility equipment.
Water support — bottled-water deliveries if the supply is interrupted, and help if you rely on water for medical reasons.

How to register (free, a few minutes)

Each provider keeps its own register, so it’s worth signing up with all three:

Who	Why & how
Your energy supplier	Gas and electricity — register with each if they’re different companies. Call, use the app or website, and say which services you need + any medical equipment.
Your electricity network operator	They run the wires and handle power cuts (not the same as your supplier). You can reach them free on 105, or find them online — ask to be added and to be told about planned cuts.
Your water company	Runs its own Priority Services Register — sign up for bottled-water deliveries in an interruption and other support.

Do it for someone you care forYou can register on behalf of a relative or friend with their permission — a quick call could make a real difference to an older parent or a vulnerable neighbour in the next power cut or cold snap.

Do this now

Call your energy supplier and ask to join the Priority Services Register — say what support you need and mention any medical equipment. Then ask your network operator (call 105) and your water company to add you too. It’s free and takes minutes.

While you’re at it, check you’re getting every bit of help you’re owed: the £150 Warm Home Discount, wider energy bill help, and water bill support.

Related guides — energy, water & support

Energy bill help Warm Home Discount Prepayment meter rights Water bill help Power cut compensation

Source verification Primary sources: Ofgem (join your supplier’s Priority Services Register; the broadened eligibility for customers in vulnerable situations) and Citizens Advice (getting extra support from your energy supplier). Specific URL: ofgem.gov.uk — join your supplier’s Priority Services Register. Last verified 2 July 2026 (the free service, the broadened “anyone in a vulnerable situation incl. temporary” eligibility, the services list — power-cut priority, password scheme, accessible bills, medical-equipment priority — and registering separately with each supplier / the network operator (105) / the water company web-checked against Ofgem and Citizens Advice). Confidence: High — the PSR is a licence-condition service across energy and water; eligibility broadened by Ofgem beyond a fixed list; each provider keeps its own register; 105 reaches the electricity network operator free. Exact services offered can vary slightly by provider. Scope: Great Britain (Northern Ireland has equivalent supplier care registers). Not financial advice — for money worries get free help from Citizens Advice or MoneyHelper.

Priority Services Register — common questions

What is the Priority Services Register?

A free service from your energy, network and water suppliers giving extra support if you’re in a vulnerable situation — power-cut priority and welfare checks, a password scheme against bogus callers, accessible bills, and help if you rely on medical equipment. Join some or all services.

Who can join?

Anyone in a vulnerable situation who needs support — pensionable age, disability or long-term/mental health condition, reliance on medical equipment, serious illness, children under five, or a temporary situation like recovering from an operation or a recent bereavement.

How do I register?

Ask your energy supplier (each one if gas and electricity differ), your electricity network operator (call 105 free), and your water company to add you to their register. It’s free, takes a few minutes, and you can update or remove your details any time.

What help do I get in a power cut?

Advance warning of planned cuts, updates during an unplanned one, and extra support such as a welfare check, hot meals, or help with heating/cooking in a long outage. If you rely on electricity for medical equipment, tell them so they can prioritise you. Call 105 free to report any power cut.

Does it protect against scams?

Yes — you can set up a password with your supplier that a genuine engineer will know (or they’ll show ID). If a caller can’t give the password, don’t let them in. It’s a simple, effective guard against bogus callers who target people they think are vulnerable.

Sources: What the Priority Services Register is, who can join and how to register · Ofgem. Getting extra support from your energy supplier · Citizens Advice. SortedUK is not a regulated adviser and this is general information. Last reviewed: 2 July 2026.

The Priority Services Register — free extra support most people miss