Priority Services Register Explained: Who Qualifies and How to Sign Up

Of everything in the Be Ready campaign, the Priority Services Register might be the most useful — and it's completely free. It's a free service that lets your gas, electricity and water suppliers know your household might need extra help during an outage. This guide covers who qualifies, what you actually get, and how to sign up in a few minutes.

What is the Priority Services Register?

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK-wide service for people who may be vulnerable during supply interruptions. When you sign up, your energy supplier and your local electricity network operator are told that your household needs extra consideration. Your water company runs its own version of the same idea, and signing up usually covers both.

It's not a fast-track repair service — it won't get your power back sooner. What it does is make sure you're looked after while you wait: proactive updates, alternative contact methods, and practical help if the outage drags on.

Who qualifies?

More people than you'd think. You can sign up if anyone in your home:

• is of pensionable age
• is disabled or has a long-term medical condition
• relies on medical equipment that needs power (oxygen concentrators, stairlifts, dialysis machines, powered wheelchairs, fridges for medication)
• has a mental health condition, dementia or a learning difficulty
• is recovering from an injury or hospital treatment
• has young children (typically under 5)
• doesn't speak or read English well
• has sight or hearing loss

Temporary situations count too — a broken leg, a new baby, a recent bereavement. If you're unsure, sign up anyway; suppliers would rather know than not.

What do you actually get?

Support varies a bit by supplier, but typically includes: advance notice of any planned power cuts, so you can prepare; priority support in an emergency, including welfare checks for the most vulnerable; alternative ways to contact your supplier if you can't use a standard phone; help with reading meters you can't reach; and in long outages, practical help like alternative heating or cooking arrangements.

For households with powered medical equipment, this is the single most important preparation step — more important than any item on the Be Ready checklist.

How to sign up

It's free and takes a few minutes:

1. Go to thepsr.co.uk — the official sign-up site.
2. Enter your postcode to find your suppliers.
3. Fill in your details and tick the reasons you qualify. You don't need a doctor's note or any proof.
4. Your suppliers are notified automatically. You can also sign up by calling your energy supplier directly if you'd rather talk to someone.

One sign-up usually covers electricity and gas. For water, check your water company's website — most link to the same register, but a couple run their own.

Common questions

Does it cost anything?

No. It's completely free, forever.

Will it affect my bills or credit?

No. It's purely a support flag on your account. It doesn't change your tariff, your bills or your credit record.

I'm renting — can I still sign up?

Yes. The register is about the household, not who owns the property. Tenants, lodgers and live-in carers can all register.

What if my situation changes?

Update your supplier — or remove yourself — any time. Temporary registrations (a broken leg, a new baby) can simply lapse.

Is this the same as the Be Ready campaign?

It's part of the same push. The Be Ready campaign specifically encourages eligible households to sign up, because it costs nothing and helps suppliers direct help where it's needed most. Read our campaign overview for the full picture, and our budget guide for the physical kit side of things.

Do it today

Most of emergency preparedness takes weeks of gradual shopping. This takes five minutes, costs nothing, and helps the people in your home who'd struggle most in a power cut. If you do one thing from this site, make it this one.