Ridgeway residents are being urged to sign up to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Priority Services Register (PSR) and "stay safe this winter whilst adhering to government coronavirus guidelines".

Traditionally, SSEN host a series of local community events throughout autumn to help Parish Councils and Local Resilience Groups prepare residents for winter weather which brings the potential for disruption to power supplies. Information that would be provided at these events has been shared widely with Parish Councils to disseminate, and SSEN is highlighting the extra support that residents in Wiltshire, Swindon, Andover, Bourne Valley and Romsey may quality for.

SSEN's Customer and Community Advisor, Melanie Grace said: "The communities we serve rely on us for a safe and secure supply of electricity. We established the Priority Services Register to ensure that in the rare instances that power may be disrupted we can target support for those groups that need it most."

Customers are eligible for SSEN's Priority Services Register (PSR) if they:

• Are deaf or hard of hearing

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• Have a disability

• Live with children under five

• Are blind or partially sighted

• Have a chronic illness

• Use medical equipment/aids reliant on electricity

• Are over 60

Customers who may find themselves in a vulnerable situation during planned or unplanned power outages are offered free extra support, which varies according to the individual customer's needs. Earlier this year, SSEN extended its PSR criteria to customers who may require additional help during the coronavirus pandemic, so those categorised at 'high risk' and 'extremely high risk' of severe illness from coronavirus are now eligible to sign up for additional support.

Without the opportunity for face-to-face events, SSEN has sought alternative means to promote the PSR and the support available to customers in vulnerable situations. SSEN is working with Parish Councils to ensure this information gets to the people that need it. 

Helen Vass, CCA for SSEN said: "The circumstances of winter remain the same, regardless of whatever else is happening, so we wanted to try to replicate – as much as possible – the guidance and information we would usually give to communities at this time of year.

"In addition to giving advice on signing up for PSR, we're also encouraging customers to download the free-to-call 105 emergency number and SSEN's Power Track app to any phones or digital devices they have, to enable them to report power cuts and emergencies, and to be kept updated on those situations."

Customers can prepare for the winter months and the potential for weather events which can affect power supplies by:

• Saving the emergency power cut number – 105 – to your phone to report power cuts or damage to the electricity network

• Downloading SSEN's Power Track app to give you details of power cuts and restoration times. You can also report power cuts and network damage through the Power Track app

• Going to SSEN's website where there is a wealth of advice and information on how to deal with a power cut, or to chat live to one of SSEN's advisors via its Webchat service

• Following SSEN on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates