COMMUNITY resilience events have helped people prepare for adverse weather conditions during the winter months.
Teams from the Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) have talked to customers who could benefit from the free assistance provided by SSEN's Priority Services Register and YES Energy Solutions.
Guidance has been given on how to stay safe during a power cut or in a severe weather event and energy-saving advice has been given to hundreds of customers living in both rural and urban areas.
Customer vulnerability and communities lead Emma Merritt said: “Across our central southern England distribution area, we have over 1.2 million customers - in both rural and urban settings, and with a wide variety of different cultures and languages – which records suggest are eligible for free additional support.
“We want to speak to as many customers as possible about the services we can provide and by going along to local community meetings, we can speak face-to-face with residents and help them sign up for free additional assistance or simply provide them with the guidance they need to help them through the colder months.”
Customers are eligible for the Priority Services Register if they have a disability, are deaf or hard of hearing, live with children under the age of five, are blind or partially-sighted, have a chronic illness, use medical equipment or aids which are reliant on electricity or if they are over the age of 60.
SSEN assists more than 700,000 customers who have already signed up to the Priority Services Register but those who still need additional assistance due to vulnerability or circumstances of fuel poverty is bring urged to contact the company.
Customers can also be referred to YES Energy Solutions for ways to save energy and money.
Events have taken place at the following places:
- The Eye Can Exhibitions organised by Sight Support West of England and Wiltshire Sight
- The Big Band Buffet in Stockbridge's Test Valley School - organised by Test Valley Council.
- North Newnton Parish Council Meeting
- Wroughton Community Meeting
- Nether Wallop's 'Not On Your Own' Club
- Crown House Coffee Morning in Melksham
- Stroke Club in Penton Mewsey
- Horningsham Parish Council Meeting
Sight Support West of England's Karen Cole said: "Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has offered vital information at our exhibitions about the additional support they have available for blind and partially-sighted people.”
For information about the Priority Services Register, call 0800 2943259 or for YES Energy Solutions, register at ssen.co.uk.
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