Help and support with your energy supply

Ofgem offer information ofgem: Join your supplier’s Priority Services Register about the free support service eligibility and how you can contact your supplier.  

You can sign up if you're:

• a pensioner
• disabled or chronically sick
• have a hearing or visual impairment

What help can you receive?

If you're on the PSR, you could get:

• free advice on being more energy-efficient
• protection from cold callers with a password protection scheme to keep you safe
• your meter moved free of charge if it's hard for you to use or read the meter
• a free quarterly meter reading if you can't read your meter
• bills sent to a relative, carer or friend to help you check them
• your bills and meter readings in a braille, large print, audio tape, textphone or typetalk if you're visually impaired
• advance notice if your energy supply is going to be interrupted
• priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted
• alternative facilities for cooking and heating if your supply is interrupted
• extra help to use your meter or appliances
• annual gas safety checks

How to sign up

• Contact your energy supplier to see if you're eligible to sign up to the PSR. If you have different suppliers for gas and electricity, you'll need to call them both.
• You'll need to register again if you change your energy supplier.
• Northern Powergrid: Making you our priority
• Northern Gas Networks: priority customers
• Northumbrian Water: Sign up for Priority Services

Free gas safety checks

To be eligible for a free annual gas safety check, you must own your home and get a means tested benefit such as Pension Credit or Universal Support.  Also, one of the following must apply:

• you live alone
• you live with other adults who are pensionable age, disabled and or chronically sick or under 18
• you live with at least one other child under five

Further help

Further information can be found at:

• Citizens Advice: contact the consumer helpline
• Stay warm, well and safe this winter
• Help with your money
• Debt advice and financial help