Local AM Paul Davies has joined an Ofgem drive to increase the take-up of free services available from energy suppliers. These services are available to vulnerable people who sign up to the Priority Service Register (PSR). The Priority Service Register is a list of domestic customers who are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick. Each energy supplier is required to have their own PSR and to provide free help to people who add themselves, or are referred, to their list.
The type of services available to PSR customers include:
- Advance notice of planned power cuts for customers who depend on their energy supply for medical reasons.
- Password protection scheme to provide reassurance that callers, for example meter readers, are genuine.
- Bill nominee scheme – customers can ask their supplier to send their bill to anybody (for example a family member or carer) who has agreed to receive it.
- Prepayment meters – if a customer is unable to bend down or reach to their prepayment meter they can asked for it to be moved.
- Accessible information – suppliers can provide customers with account and bill information in an accessible format e.g. larger print or braille.
- Free annual gas appliance safety checks for homeowners.
Suppliers are also prohibited from disconnecting a premises occupied by a customer eligible for the PSR during the winter months (1 October - 31 March).
Mr Davies said: "I was delighted to recently attend Ofgem's awareness raising event, which highlighted how some of the most vulnerable households in Wales can access free services from energy suppliers. Currently there are over 200,000 people signed up to a Priority Service Register, but there may very well be people in Pembrokeshire who are eligible, but sadly unaware that this register exists. Therefore it is important to raise awareness of this register and the benefits that it could bring to vulnerable households in Pembrokeshire, and indeed across Wales. Ofgem's new form is a quick and simple way to sign up and gain access to free services for those that need them most. I will continue to work with Ofgem to ensure that my constituents get the best deal from their energy suppliers by raising awareness of the Priority Service Register. For more information on the PSR, please visit - http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/domestic-consumers/hfvc/Pages/hfvc.aspx."