SSEN Customer and Community Advisor, Julian Pearson handing out PSR leaflets and advice at the SSEN Demfest stand

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is raising awareness of its free additional services for customers across Southampton with help from this year's Demfest.

The annual event aims to showcase opportunities for people living with dementia - and their carers - to live as full citizens of Southampton, by communicating assistance available in the city and beyond for those affected by dementia.

SSEN Customer and Community Advisors, Rebecca Botto and Julian Pearson attended the event for the second year running to talk about the free Priority Services Register (PSR) set up by the network operator and to give interested customers the chance to register on the spot.

Rebecca explains further: "Demfest gives us the opportunity to speak to local customers, their families and their carers about what we can do to help in the event of a power cut. Many people can feel vulnerable when their electricity goes off, especially during severe weather, and this event enables us to discuss the ways that we can help through our Priority Services Register."

"In addition to distributing hundreds of leaflets to organisations at the event - such as Dementia Friendly Hampshire, a local pharmacy and the Village Hall - so they could inform their customers, we were able to sign up anyone who qualified for the service while they were at our SSEN stand, so they are safe in the knowledge that they will receive extra care and assistance if their power supply is interrupted."

Customers can qualify for SSEN's Priority Services Register if they:

  • Are dependent on electricity for home medical care
  • Have a chronic illness or short term medical condition
  • Are disabled
  • Have special communication needs
  • Have children under the age of five
  • Are over the age of 60

By registering for SSEN's PSR, customers will be proactively contacted to warn them of potential bad weather to help them prepare and to offer extra support where required. SSEN's teams will also keep in close and regular contact with its PSR customers during network outages to check they are getting the help they need.

The free service also offers:

  • Dedicated 24-hour priority services phone number
  • Information in the format you need, for example Braille, textphone, audio CD or foreign language

To find out more about the PSR, click here or call our priority team on 0800 294 3259 to discuss your circumstances to find out if you are eligible to register.

SSEN has an ongoing partnership with the Alzheimer's Society, providing support as it works to make Southampton a dementia friendly city.