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<p>Ofgem requires energy companies to promote and maintain a Priority Services Register
(PSR), to provide non-financial help to certain groups of vulnerable consumers. Ofgem
is responsible for ensuring compliance with these requirements.</p><p>In 2016, Ofgem
introduced new requirements that companies take all reasonable steps to identify customers
who may benefit from PSR services and introduced a broad “Vulnerability Principle”
in 2017, which clarifies that suppliers need to make an extra effort to identify and
respond to the needs of consumers in vulnerable situations, which can help identify
those who could benefit from PSR services.</p><p>The number of consumers on PSRs has
risen from 1.7 million electricity and 1.4 million gas consumers in 2010, to nearly
6 million electricity and 4.8 million gas consumers in 2017. Ofgem publish information
on energy company performance, available online at:</p><p><a href="https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2018/11/vulnerability_report_2018.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/files/docs/2018/11/vulnerability_report_2018.pdf</a></p><p>Ofgem
is also working to promote PSR data sharing between energy and water companies in
England and Wales (with the customer’s consent) following a successful pilot in Spring
2018.</p>
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