Prep

Could you join the Priority Services Register?

The Priority Services Register is a free service for people who may need extra help if the power, gas or water goes off. Tick what applies to see if it's worth applying. Your supplier or network decides: this page is only a guide.

If you rely on medical equipment that needs power, don't wait for the register. Be Ready says to make a plan now with your care provider or clinical team, including who to contact in an outage. If someone's life is in danger, call 999.

Where do you live?

Does any of this apply?

Tick for yourself or someone in your home. These answers can be about health, so they aren't saved, and they don't go in the page's address.

In Northern Ireland: Care Registers

The Priority Services Register covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own registers, and each one has its own rules.

  • Electricity network: NIE Networks Customer Care Register, if you or someone you know relies on electricity for healthcare needs. Helpline 03457 643643.
  • Water: NI Water Customer Care Register, for older people, people with a serious medical condition, and others who need extra help.
  • Electricity and gas suppliers: each keeps its own customer care register and offers free extra services. Contact your supplier.

Priority Services Register: thepsr.co.uk. In Northern Ireland, contact NIE Networks, NI Water or your supplier about Care Registers. Your supplier, network operator or water company decides whether you can join.

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

We compare your ticks with two published lists: the one on thepsr.co.uk, and the one Ofgem, the energy regulator, publishes. They differ a little. Ofgem includes pregnancy and losing your job, and thepsr.co.uk includes conditions that affect memory or concentration. So each line says who lists it. thepsr.co.uk says reasons can include, but aren't limited to, the ones it gives.

This isn't a decision. Your energy supplier, network operator or water company decides whether you can join. We can't see your circumstances, and we don't pass anything on.

What it can give you: Ofgem lists priority support in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts where possible, and a password scheme so you can check that a caller is genuine. You can also name someone, such as a relative or carer, to receive your communications and bills. Other help includes large print or braille bills, regular meter readings, and help reconnecting your gas supply.

How to join: thepsr.co.uk asks for your postcode, then sends you to your electricity network operator. It says your details are then shared with your energy supplier, gas network and water company, so you don't need to register with each. Ofgem describes suppliers and networks as keeping their own registers: it says to contact each supplier if you have a different one for gas and electricity, and to ask to join again if you switch. So it's worth checking with your supplier that you're on its register too.

Example: a household with a three-year-old ticks children aged five or under. That's on both lists, so it looks worth applying. The network or supplier still makes the decision.

Common questions

Who is eligible for the Priority Services Register?

thepsr.co.uk lists people of pensionable age, people with a health condition or reduced mobility, people medically dependent on electricity, gas or water, homes with children aged five or under, people needing extra communication support, people with a mental health or cognitive condition, and people who need temporary support after leaving hospital or a bereavement. Your supplier or network decides.

Is the Priority Services Register free?

Yes. thepsr.co.uk and the government's Be Ready campaign both describe it as free.

Will it keep my power on?

No. It doesn't stop a power cut. It can mean advance notice of planned cuts where possible, and priority support in an emergency.

Do I need to sign up with every company?

thepsr.co.uk says that registering through your electricity network shares your details with your supplier, gas network and water company. Ofgem says to contact each supplier if you have different ones, and to ask again if you switch, so it's worth checking.

Can I register someone else?

thepsr.co.uk says you or someone you know may be eligible, and National Grid says you can register for yourself or for someone else. It's best to do it with them, or with their agreement.

Does it cover Northern Ireland?

No. Northern Ireland has Care Registers instead, run by NIE Networks and NI Water, and customer care registers kept by each electricity and gas supplier. Each one has its own rules. Choose Northern Ireland above to see the links.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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