Priority Services Register: who can join and what it gives you

Short answer first: the Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free list your energy supplier keeps of customers who need extra help, and you can ask to join if you are of state pension age, pregnant, have young children, live with a disability or long-term condition, or your circumstances have recently changed.

It doesn't lower your unit rate. But it can make a real difference if the power goes off, if you struggle to top up a prepayment meter, or if you need someone else to deal with the bills for you.

Everything below comes from Ofgem's guidance on the Priority Services Register, which I read on 26 October 2026. Schemes and wording change, so check that page before you apply.

What you get on the register

Ofgem says joining means you can get a range of extra help, either all the time or for a short period. The list includes:

• Priority support in an emergency.
• Advance notice of scheduled power cuts, wherever possible.
• An identification and password scheme, so you can be confident anyone who contacts or visits you is genuine.
• The ability to nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier, such as a family member, carer or someone you trust.
• The chance to move your prepayment meter if you can't safely get to it to top up.
• Regular meter reading services.
• Account information and bills in large print or braille.
• Help reconnecting your gas supply, if you need it.

You don't get all of these automatically. You tell your supplier what you need, and the help is matched to that. Individual suppliers may word things slightly differently, so ask them what they can offer.

Who can join

Ofgem says you can ask to join your supplier or network operator's register if you:

• have reached state pension age
• are pregnant, or have young children
• struggle with speaking or reading English

You can also join if you live with a disability or a long-term medical condition, including:

• mental health conditions
• conditions affecting your sight, hearing or sense of smell
• conditions that mean you need medical equipment that requires a power supply

That last one matters more than people think. If a medical device in your home needs mains power, a power cut is a bigger problem for you than for most, and being on the register puts that on record.

It isn't only for long-term needs

This is the part I'd want people to hear. Ofgem says help is also available if your circumstances have recently changed, for example if you:

• are recovering from an injury, or need support after a stay in hospital
• have been bereaved
• have lost your job

So if life has just got harder, it is worth a phone call. You can be on the register for a short time and come off it later.

Supplier and network operator: two registers

Ofgem points out that there are two separate organisations here. Your energy supplier (the company that bills you) and your network operator (the company responsible for the pipes and wires) each keep a register.

The supplier register covers things like bills and meters. The network operator is the one that deals with power cuts on the ground. Ofgem's page tells you to contact the one you need, and if you want the help from both, ask both.

Two more things from Ofgem to remember:

• If you have a different supplier for gas and electricity, contact them separately.
• If you switch supplier, you need to ask to join the new supplier's register. Don't assume it follows you.

How to join

There is no form to pass and no fee. Ofgem's advice is to get in touch with your supplier or network operator directly and give them as much information as you can about your needs. You can contact them online, in writing or by phone. The details should be on their website or on your bills.

A quick checklist:

1. Find your supplier's name and customer service number on your latest bill.
2. Say you would like to join the Priority Services Register, and explain what would help.
3. If you want a trusted person to deal with your bills, give them the name of the person you want to nominate.
4. Ask what the supplier will do about a password scheme or meter reading if those matter to you.
5. Repeat for your network operator and for any separate gas supplier.

It is also worth telling a relative, neighbour or carer that you are on it, so someone else knows what help to expect.

What it won't do

I'd rather be straight about this. The register doesn't cut your bill, and it doesn't guarantee that your power stays on. Ofgem lists "priority support in an emergency" and, separately, "wherever possible, advanced notice of scheduled power cuts". That "wherever possible" is doing real work: notice isn't promised every time.

If your worry is the size of the bill itself, the cheapest wins are still about when and how you use power. My post on the cheapest time to use electricity in the UK is a good place to start, and the Cheap Watts calculator shows what your appliances cost to run right now.

Start with one thing: look at your latest bill, find the customer service number, and make the call. If you or someone you look after fits any of the lists above, it takes a few minutes and it costs nothing.