Thames Water and Scottish and Southern Electricity are encouraging vulnerable people to sign up for priority services.
By signing up for these free services, residents can benefit from extra help in electricity or water-related emergencies. The goal is to provide extra peace of mind if you’re of pensionable age; living with a chronic medical condition or restricted mobility; experiencing a change in personal circumstances; or raising a family with young children under the age of five.
You will have access to a dedicated telephone helpline, which you can call at any time of day. In the unlikely event your water stops flowing or your lights go out for a long period of time, the companies will give you a call to discuss what’s happened, what they are doing to fix it, and any additional support you might need, including an alternative supply of water or power.
You can also rely on proactive support. When the companies are planning maintenance to power lines or pipes, they will give you plenty of notice so that you can make alternative arrangements. They will communicate in the format that best suits your needs and, if you want extra reassurance, help you set up a doorstep password so that you know it’s them if they ever pop by to speak to you.
To sign up, visit www.thameswater.co.uk/priorityservices or www.ssen.co.uk/PSR/Thameswater/, call 0800 0093652 option 3, or email ecs@thameswater.co.uk. You can request registration forms by email to priorityforms@thameswater.co.uk.