Northern Powergrid sees massive priority services growth
Northern Powergrid has seen a surge in signups for its priority services register, adding around 235,000 customers to the list in the year to the end of March.
30th May 2017 by Networks
The distribution network, which serves 3.9 million homes and business in the North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, added just 150,000 the year before.
“We’ve used research and targeted communications to help us engage with customers in the communities we serve and encourage more local people to join our free service,” said Northern Powergrid head of stakeholder relations Siobhan Barton.
“Welcoming some 235,000 people to our Powergrid Care priority services register is excellent news as we continue our work to be there for our customers who may be more vulnerable if their lights go out.”
The boost in registrations comes after Ofgem ordered networks and suppliers to broaden the eligibility criteria for their services to cover all vulnerable customers starting in January 2017, including those dealing with a temporary problem such an injury or an episode of mental illness.
The regulator also placed an obligation on networks and suppliers to take all reasonable steps to identify vulnerable customers.
Shortly before the reforms were enacted, Northern Powergrid launched a campaign to raise awareness of its priority services register. Enquiries to the Powergrid Care webpage jumped by 148 per cent during the campaign.
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