Power cut guide
Fallen Power Lines: What to Do and Who to Call
Quick answer: Treat any fallen, low-hanging or damaged power line as live, even if it isn’t sparking and the lights are off. Keep at least 5 metres away and keep other people and pets back. Call 999 straight away if a line is in a road or on a footpath, or if anyone is in danger, and call 105 (free, England, Scotland and Wales) to report the damage to your local network operator. In Northern Ireland, call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
This guide is for anyone who has spotted a wire down after a storm, a pole leaning at an odd angle, a tree resting on overhead lines or a substation that looks damaged. It explains what to do in the first few minutes, which number to ring, what to tell the operator, and the common mistakes that put people in danger.
Why fallen lines are so dangerous
Overhead lines carry electricity at anything from the ordinary voltage that feeds your home up to many thousands of volts. Network operators are clear that even low-voltage lines can kill if they are damaged, and that you should never assume a line is dead.
There are three reasons a fallen line is more dangerous than it looks:
- You don’t have to touch it. When a live line is on the ground, electricity can spread through the earth around it. SP Energy Networks warns that once a line is on the ground you don’t even have to touch it to be killed.
- It can come back on. Many circuits are designed to switch themselves back on automatically after a fault. A line that is silent now could be live again in seconds, and operators say a damaged line can be re-energised hours later if they don’t know it is damaged.
- Other things conduct. Trees, wet ground, fences, ropes, string and water can all carry current. A branch lying across a wire is not a safe barrier.
A power cut in your street does not mean the line is safe. The fault that cut your supply might be somewhere else entirely.
What to do in the first few minutes
Say you’re walking the dog after a stormy night and see a cable lying across a lane. Here is the order to act in.
- Stop and step back. Keep at least 5 metres away from the line and anything it is touching, such as a fence, car, tree or puddle. If you can, go further.
- Keep others away. Hold children and pets back and warn anyone approaching. Don’t try to guard the line by standing close to it.
- Call 999 if anyone is at risk. That includes a line in a road, on a pavement or footpath, a line touching a vehicle or building, someone injured, or a fire. Ask for the police and tell them power lines are involved, so they can contact the network operator.
- Call 105 to report the damage. If there is no immediate danger to life, 105 puts you straight through to the local network operator, who can send an engineer and switch the line off safely.
- Give a precise location. A road name, nearby house number, landmark, what3words reference or any number shown on the pole all help the crew find it fast.
- Wait at a safe distance until the emergency services or the operator arrive, if it’s safe for you to do so, or leave the area.
Safety: Never try to move a fallen line, a branch on a line or anything touching it, even with something you think is insulated, such as a wooden broom or plastic pipe. Only the network operator can make it safe.
999 or 105: which number to call
Both numbers are free. The difference is how urgent the danger is. If in doubt, ring 999 first. You can find every number in one place on our emergency numbers page.
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Line down in a road, on a pavement or footpath | 999 (police), then 105 |
| Line touching a car, house, fence or person | 999 |
| Sparking, flashing or fire at a line, pole or substation | 999 |
| Someone has had an electric shock | 999 (do not touch them if they may still be in contact with the line) |
| Line hanging low or sagging, nobody in immediate danger | 105 |
| Tree leaning on or growing into a line | 105 |
| Leaning or damaged pole, broken stay wire | 105 |
| Substation door open, fence damaged, signs of break-in | 105 |
| Any of the above in Northern Ireland | 999 if danger to life; otherwise NIE Networks on 03457 643 643 |
105 works from landlines and mobiles in England, Scotland and Wales and routes you to whichever operator runs the network where you are. If you want to know more about what happens on the call, read our guide on calling 105 to report a power cut.
Damaged substations, poles and equipment
It isn’t only wires on the ground that need reporting. Network operators ask the public to call 105 about any equipment that looks damaged or could put someone at risk. That includes:
- substation doors or gates left open, or fences that have been cut or knocked down
- warning signs missing from a substation or pole
- a pole that has been hit by a vehicle, is cracked, leaning, or has been damaged by fire
- wires hanging lower than usual, or snagged on scaffolding or a building
- trees or hedges growing very close to lines or substations
- buzzing, crackling or burning smells from equipment, or smoke
Never go into a substation, even to retrieve a ball or a pet. If something has gone over the fence, call 105 and the operator will arrange to get it back safely.
If you’ve knocked into a pole while driving, stop when safe and report it. Operators have warned that damage like this sometimes goes unreported, which leaves a hazard for the next person.
Storms, wind and fallen trees
Storms are the classic time for lines to come down, when trees and branches are blown into overhead wires or weighed down by snow and ice. Operators are also at their busiest then, so a few extra precautions help.
- Stay indoors during the worst of a storm if you can. Flying debris can bring lines down without warning.
- Look up as well as down when you go out afterwards. A line may be hanging at head height, or trapped in a tree and ready to drop.
- Don’t clear storm debris near lines. Leave branches tangled in wires or resting near them for the operator. This applies to chainsaws and garden tools too.
- Avoid flooded areas near damaged equipment. Water conducts electricity, and a submerged cable may not be visible.
- Drive carefully on rural roads. Lines can come down across lanes, sometimes at windscreen height, especially at night.
Getting ready before the winter storms helps you avoid having to go out at all. Our guide to preparing your home for storm season power cuts covers what to have ready.
Tip: Save 105 in your phone now, and if your home is fed by an overhead line, note any number shown on the nearest pole. It makes reporting much quicker in the dark.
If a line falls on your car
This is rare, but the advice is specific and goes against instinct, so it’s worth knowing.
- Stay inside the vehicle unless there is a real risk of fire. You are usually safer inside than stepping onto ground that could be live.
- Call 999 from your mobile, say overhead power lines are involved and ask them to contact the network operator.
- Warn people to keep away. Anyone who comes to help and touches the car could be hurt.
- Wait until the operator confirms the power is off and the emergency services tell you it is safe to get out.
If you have to get out because of fire, SP Energy Networks’ advice is to jump clear without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time, then take leaping strides so that one foot is always off the ground until you are at least 5 metres away. Don’t go back to the vehicle.
Safety: If someone has been injured by a power line, do not touch them while they may still be in contact with it or with anything it’s touching. Call 999, keep your distance and wait for the emergency services.
Outdoor work and hobbies near overhead lines
Not every accident happens after a storm. The Health and Safety Executive’s guidance on overhead lines covers work near them, and the same common sense applies at home.
- Check for overhead lines before using ladders, long-handled tools, cherry pickers or scaffolding, or cutting hedges and trees.
- Don’t fly kites, drones or model aircraft near lines. String, rope and wet materials can all conduct electricity.
- Remember that lines on wooden poles are easily mistaken for telephone wires. HSE warns that even lower-voltage lines can kill.
- If a tree on your land is growing towards a line, call 105 or your operator rather than cutting it yourself.
- Farmers and contractors moving tall machinery should know where lines cross their land. Operators publish free safety advice for this.
What happens after you report it
Once a fallen or damaged line has been reported, the operator treats it as a safety job. Engineers will normally make the area safe first, by switching off and isolating the line, and then plan the repair. During a big storm, dangerous lines are prioritised over restoring supplies, so it can take a while before the lights come back on.
You can follow progress on our live list of today’s power cuts. To see the operator’s estimated restoration time and reports from neighbours, check your postcode. If your home is off while repairs happen, the rest of our complete guide to what to do in a power cut walks you through the next steps.
A long power cut also brings its own risks. If you’re using candles, a camping stove or a generator while you wait, read our power cut safety guide on candles, generators and carbon monoxide before you start. If a storm has kept you off for a long time, you may be entitled to a payment, which is explained in our guide to storm power cut compensation.
Frequently asked questions
How far should I stay away from a fallen power line?
At least 5 metres, which is the distance network operators such as SSEN and SP Energy Networks give, and further if you can. Keep clear of anything the line is touching as well, including fences, vehicles, trees and water.
Is a fallen power line still live if there’s a power cut?
You must assume it is. The line may be fed from another direction, or the network may switch it back on automatically. Only the network operator can confirm a line is dead.
Should I call 999 or 105 for a fallen power line?
Call 999 if the line is in a road or on a footpath, is touching a vehicle or building, is sparking, or anyone is hurt or at risk. Call 105 to report damage where nobody is in immediate danger. If you call 999, the police will contact the network operator.
Who do I call about a tree touching power lines?
Call 105 in England, Scotland or Wales, or NIE Networks in Northern Ireland. Don’t cut the tree or branches yourself. If the tree has brought the line down onto a road or path, call 999.
Can I report a fallen line online?
Some operators have apps and online forms for reporting damage, but a fallen or sparking line is urgent. Phone 999 or 105 so it is dealt with straight away.
Your next step: save 105 and, if you live in Northern Ireland, 03457 643 643 in your phone today, and note any number on the pole nearest your home. If you ever see a line down, remember the order: step back, keep others away, call 999 if anyone is at risk, then 105.
Sources
- SSEN u2013 Stay alive, call 105 (safety advice on damaged power lines)
- SSEN u2013 Public safety warning about damaged network equipment
- SP Energy Networks u2013 Report a power cut or emergency
- SP Energy Networks u2013 Overhead power lines safety leaflet
- Power Cut 105 u2013 Call 105 to report a power cut or damage
- HSE u2013 Overhead power lines
Checked against these sources on 28 October 2026. Rules and amounts can change – your network operator or Ofgem has the final word. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
More on during a power cut: What to Do in a Power Cut: The Complete UK Guide · All power cut guides