Priority Services Register and energy switching under the £1,723 October 2026 cap

Last updated: Wednesday 30 September 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Ofgem publishes the January–March 2027 price-cap decision (due 25 November 2026) or Priority Services Register switching guidance changes.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

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As of 30 September 2026, Ofgem’s Oct–Dec dual-fuel Direct Debit typical bill is £1,723 — and if you (or someone you care for) relies on the Priority Services Register, a cheaper tariff only helps if support flags survive the switch. £1,723 is a typical-use sketch (about 2,500 kWh electricity and 9,500 kWh gas), not your personal bill. The Priority Services Register (PSR) is free extra help from suppliers and network operators; it does not change the price cap and it is not the same as Warm Home Discount. Primary Compare buttons on this page use MoneySuperMarket’s residential energy journey. We may earn a commission if you switch through our links.

Sources: Ofgem Oct–Dec 2026 price-cap announcement (26 August 2026), Ofgem unit rates and standing charges, and public Priority Services Register guidance from energy suppliers and Smart Energy GB.

What the Priority Services Register actually is

The PSR is a free industry list that flags households needing extra help with communication, access or safety — for example pensionable age, disability, chronic illness, temporary vulnerability after hospital discharge, or medical dependence on electricity. Suppliers and network operators keep related registers. Typical support can include advance notice of planned cuts, priority updates in an outage, accessible bills, password schemes for visits, and help with meter readings. Joining does not change your unit rate and does not put you on a special “PSR tariff”.

Two registers matter in practice: your supplier PSR and your network operator PSR (electricity distribution / gas network for your postcode). Network registration is about the wires and pipes to your street, not which retail brand bills you. When you switch retailer, network operator usually stays the same — but you should still confirm both sides after go-live.

Offer facts vs bill maths (checked 30 September 2026)

Item	Figure	Notes for PSR households
Ofgem dual-fuel DD typical	£1,723/year	Oct–Dec 2026 (up ~4% from £1,663 Jul–Sep)
Electricity unit (national DD avg)	26.32p/kWh	Default tariff average; 0% VAT on electricity in published Oct–Mar window
Electricity standing (national DD avg)	54.83p/day	Region varies
Gas unit (national DD avg)	7.97p/kWh	Includes 5% VAT in averages
Gas standing (national DD avg)	29.68p/day	Region varies
PSR cost	Free	Does not alter the £1,723 sketch
Next cap decision	25 Nov 2026	Jan–Mar 2027 levels

£1,723 ÷ 12 is about £143.50 a month for the typical sketch. Medical equipment, longer heating hours or someone home all day can push real bills above that even before winter peaks. Always export 12 months of kWh before you trust a “£X saving” tile.

Can you switch energy if you are on the PSR?

Yes. Being on the Priority Services Register does not lock you to a supplier. You can still compare fixed and other live residential deals under the October cap rules. The practical risk is operational, not legal: after a change of supplier, some households discover their new retailer does not yet show the same support flags, or that a nominee / password scheme was never copied across.

Industry work continues toward smoother PSR handovers, but as of late September 2026 the safe checklist is still: (1) note what support you use today, (2) switch only if Year-1 cash wins after exit fees, (3) re-confirm PSR with the new supplier within days of the welcome pack, (4) re-confirm with the electricity and gas network operators for your postcode if you have not done so recently.

Fit summary

Good for: households already on (or eligible for) PSR support who still want a proper October switch under the £1,723 sketch.
Consider alternatives: if someone depends on powered medical equipment, speak to the supplier’s vulnerability team before you change payment method or meter type.
Not for: business meters — use our separate business-energy form path, never the residential Compare buttons here.

Important conditions

• £1,723 is Ofgem’s typical-use Direct Debit sketch, not a personal guarantee.
• PSR is free and separate from Warm Home Discount eligibility.
• Fixed deals sit outside the cap — read term length, exit fees and what happens when the fix ends.
• Standing charges and unit rates vary by region and payment method.
• Prepay and smart-meter journeys can show different product sets.
• Northern Ireland has a different retail market; this guide is for Great Britain.

Switching steps with a PSR checklist (twenty-five minutes)

1) Write down current supplier PSR needs (medical, communication, nominee, password).
2) Note whether you are on a default tariff or a fixed, and any exit fee.
3) Export 12 months of electricity and gas kWh (or estimate carefully).
4) Open MoneySuperMarket with the same postcode, meter type and payment method.
5) Rank by estimated annual cost; open standing + unit rates on shortlisted labels.
6) Complete the switch only if Year-1 all-in wins after exit fees and temporary credits end.
7) After welcome pack: re-register PSR with the new supplier and confirm network PSR for your postcode.

Final decision card

Default tariff, no exit pain, live deal undercuts Year-1 sketch → switch, then re-register PSR.
Deep inside a fixed with a steep exit fee → stay unless savings clearly clear the fee; still confirm network PSR is current.
Already on a strong fixed → compare once for peace of mind; focus on PSR hygiene rather than churn.

Who usually qualifies for PSR help

Eligibility language varies slightly by company, but common triggers include pensionable age, disability, chronic sickness, sight or hearing needs, poor mental health that affects bill management, pregnancy, young children in the home, and temporary vulnerability. You can often register on behalf of someone you care for with their consent. Ask about a nominee scheme so a trusted person can discuss the account.

PSR is not a means test. You do not need to be on Universal Credit to join. Conversely, receiving benefits does not automatically enrol you — someone still has to ask.

Medical equipment and power cuts

If someone in the home depends on electricity for medical equipment, tell both the supplier and the electricity network operator. Priority reconnection and welfare checks during longer outages are among the most important PSR outcomes. A cheaper dual-fuel tile that saves £40 a year is not a win if the new account never learns that a dialysis machine or oxygen concentrator is on site.

Keep a printed list of equipment and a battery/backup plan. PSR support helps; it does not replace a personal emergency kit.

How PSR interacts with the £1,723 October cap

They are separate systems. The cap limits default unit rates and standing charges for domestic customers on standard variable tariffs. PSR flags support needs. Switching can still cut Year-1 cash if a live fixed or other product undercuts your expected SVT cost after the 1 October rate change. Just treat PSR re-registration as step seven of the switch, not an optional extra.

Warm Home Discount is a third thread: a £150 electricity rebate for eligible households in the scheme year, claimed via supplier rules. Do not assume a new supplier automatically continues a rebate you received last winter — check that scheme on its own timeline.

Worked shapes (illustrative, not quotes)

Daughter managing mum’s account: Mum is on PSR for hearing needs and a password scheme. A MoneySuperMarket quote shows £90 Year-1 saving versus the post-1 October SVT sketch with no exit fee. Switch, then call the new supplier the same week with the password, nominee details and hearing preference before the first engineer visit.

Couple with a powered medical device: Compare tariffs, but phone the vulnerability team if the winning deal needs a smart-meter appointment. Ask how appointments are booked and whether a carer can be present.

Already on a sharp fixed until March 2027: Stay put on price; still confirm network PSR is up to date before winter storms.

Related SwitchSquid October guides

For post-cap switch timing see our switch-after-October-cap guide. For standing-charge pence, exit fees and Warm Home Discount timing, use those October twins. This URL stays on Priority Services Register hygiene while you compare under £1,723.

Renters, carers and who can authorise the switch

If the energy account is in the vulnerable person’s name, they (or a legally authorised person) must authorise the switch. Carers should check lasting power of attorney or explicit account authority before moving supply. Shared houses should agree who the bill-payer is before anyone clicks Compare.

Landlords sometimes keep the account in their own name. In that case residents can still ask the network operator about PSR for the property’s safety needs, but they cannot silently change the retail supplier.

Paper trail worth keeping

Photograph the old tariff name, MPAN/MPRN, payment method and any PSR reference numbers before you switch. When the welcome pack arrives, check rates match the screen and that support preferences were captured. Cooling-off exists for a reason — use it if paperwork is wrong.

If your first Direct Debit looks wrong, pause before panicking: confirm start dates and whether the old supplier is still collecting an overlapping week. Keep both welcome emails until the first accurate bill lands.

FAQ

What is the Priority Services Register?
A free support list run by energy suppliers and network operators for households that need extra help with communication, access or safety. It does not set your unit rate.

Does the £1,723 October 2026 price cap apply if I am on the PSR?
The cap applies to default domestic tariffs by payment method and meter type. PSR status neither raises nor lowers the capped pence on its own.

Do I lose PSR support when I switch energy supplier?
You should not lose the right to support, but you often need to re-register with the new supplier. Confirm network operator registration as well.

Is PSR the same as Warm Home Discount?
No. Warm Home Discount is a separate rebate scheme with its own eligibility rules.

Can I switch energy in October 2026 if someone depends on medical equipment?
Yes, but tell the new supplier and network operator immediately and plan appointments carefully.

Is £1,723 what I will pay?
Only if your usage matches Ofgem’s typical-use assumptions and you are on a capped default tariff paid by Direct Debit. Most homes differ.

Can business sites use these Compare buttons?
No. Residential buttons go to MoneySuperMarket. Business quotes belong on SwitchSquid’s business-energy form.

Do you earn commission?
Yes. SwitchSquid may earn a commission at no extra cost to you when you switch through the tracked residential links on this page.