We all depend on electricity, gas, and water services every day. As a result, power cuts and disruptions can be annoying at best and downright dangerous at worst. Luckily, for people living in London boroughs, there is support available. Here at LifeConnect24, we’re teaming up with Accenture alongside UK Power Networks and the charity Scope to raise awareness of the Priority Services Register.
What is the Priority Services Register?
The Priority Services Register is a service provided by energy suppliers in London to assist vulnerable people and households. By signing up to the Register, you can receive essential support during a power cut. This support includes a priority phone line that you can call 24 hours a day, a dedicated support team and tailored emergency support including meals and home visits if needed. They even offer provisions such as Wi-Fi dongles, refrigerated packs for medicine and mobile charging packs.
Who Can Register?
The PSR is available in all of the London boroughs. You can register if someone in your household meets any of the following criteria:
- Has a serious or chronic illness, a disability, a mental health condition, or requires reasonable adjustments
- Has dementia
- Is over 60 years old
- Has children under the age of 5 years
- Has a mental health condition
- Requires support due to difficult circumstances such as bereavement, job loss, etc.
- Has communication needs
To sign up to the Priority Services Register, click here.
Why Should You Sign Up?
If you meet any of the criteria above, a disruption to your electricity, gas, or water supply could pose a serious risk to your health. For example, someone with diabetes will probably depend on electricity to refrigerate their insulin. Meanwhile, people over 60 often have a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, breathing problems, and flu when they live in cold homes. Therefore, it’s important for them to be able to heat their homes without interruption.
Although power cuts are rare in London, signing up to the Priority Services Register can ensure that you have support when it matters most. By signing up with UK Power Networks, you can also opt-in to get support from your electricity supplier, including bills and communications in the best format for you, a free gas safety check, support with meter readings and more.
Click here to sign up to the Priority Services Register.
Additional Advice from LifeConnect24
If you or someone you know feels vulnerable at home, you may also benefit from a Lifeline alarm. Our personal alarms come with a stylish pendant that you can wear around your neck or wrist. If you have a fall or feel unwell, you simply press the button to raise a call for help.
The Lifeline response team will respond immediately to assess your situation, before taking the appropriate action. If needed, the Response Team can call your emergency contacts and emergency services. Personal alarms can give elderly people or those living with disabilities the chance to live with more independence and confidence.
What’s more, our standard personal alarms feature a back-up battery with 40 hours of power. This ensures that you’ll never have to go without your Lifeline alarm, even during a power cut. Start living confidently now.
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