More than 1.4 MILLION households in the North West are eligible but not signed up to a vital emergency support register

Thousands of people in the North West are eligible for priority help during a water, power or gas outage have not registered for the free support available to them.

There is a wide range of eligibility criteria for the Priority Services Register, including people of pensionable age, and people living with disabilities, as well as homes where there are children aged under five, or living with anxiety or depression.

You get extra help and tailored support if there is a situation where water, electric or gas goes off in a local community. It also opens up a range of extra support services, such as translation of literature and home safety checks (if eligible).

While there are more than 810,000 people currently on the register in North West England, it is thought nearly 1.5 million are likely to be eligible but have not signed up.

As the weather turns colder, Electricity North West, Cadent and United Utilities urge people to check if they are eligible and, if so, join the register now. Sign up at www.thepsr.co.uk

Paula Steer, North West Network Director for gas distribution network Cadent, said: “All the utilities are geared up to provide additional support should there be an outage – so we would urge everyone who is eligible to sign up today. 

“It is a simple process, just a few minutes of your time that will give you, and those you care for, peace of mind if your electricity, water or gas goes off unexpectedly.”

Iain Pilling, Area Engagement Lead for United Utilities said: “As winter is in full swing, we’d advise all customers to think about if they or a family member or friend would benefit from any additional support. By signing up to the priority services register, it helps us to respond as quickly as we can to any particular needs they might have.” 

You are eligible to join the Priority Services Register if you or others in your household:

• Use medical equipment reliant on electricity or water

• Are pregnant, or living with children under five years of age

• Are blind, or partially sighted

• Are deaf, or hard of hearing

• Have a chronic illness

• Have anxiety, depression, or any mental health condition

• Have a disability

• Are of a pensionable age

• Have a loss of impairment of smell

• Need documents translated into another format or language

• Temporarily need extra support due to life changes, such as post hospital recovery or bereavement.