Power cut guide
Food Lost in a Power Cut: Will Insurance Pay?
Quick answer: Possibly, if your home contents insurance includes freezer or fridge contents cover and the loss was caused by a failure of the power supply. Many policies include it, some only as an optional extra, and there are usually limits and exclusions. The electricity network operator will not pay for spoiled food, although you may separately get a fixed compensation payment for a long cut.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
A long power cut can mean a freezer full of food going in the bin, and the cost can be significant for a family. This guide explains where to look for help, what insurers typically ask for, how the network operator’s compensation fits in, and what to do if you rent. It does not cover individual insurers’ policies, which vary, so always read your own policy documents.
Will the network operator pay for my spoiled food?
No. In England, Scotland and Wales, the network operator pays fixed sums under the Guaranteed Standards of Performance if it takes too long to restore your power. These are set amounts rather than a refund of your losses, and Ofgem lists damage to appliances and electrical equipment among the things that are not paid for. NIE Networks in Northern Ireland says the same thing directly: it cannot pay to cover freezer contents and suggests contacting your home insurer.
That said, the fixed payment can help towards replacing food. A home off for more than 12 hours in normal weather is due £100, plus £45 for each further 12 hours, and storm cuts have their own rules. You can see every payment in our guide to power cut compensation in the UK. The storm rules are covered in our guide to storm power cut compensation.
You can usually receive the operator’s payment and also make an insurance claim, because they are paying for different things. Mention any compensation to your insurer if the claim form asks about other payments.
Does home contents insurance cover freezer food?
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says some home contents policies may cover loss of food in freezers, up to the policy limit, when it is caused by a failure in the power supply. The key word is “some”. Cover differs a lot between insurers and between levels of policy from the same insurer.
When you look at your policy, check these points:
- Is it included? Look for a section called something like “freezer contents”, “food in freezers” or “fridge and freezer contents”. It may be standard, or it may be an optional extra you had to add.
- Does it cover fridges too? Some wording mentions only freezers.
- What causes are covered? The wording should say whether it covers a failure of the public power supply, a breakdown of the appliance itself, or both. Read the exclusions too, for example anything about planned cuts or a freezer being switched off by mistake.
- Is there a limit? There is usually a maximum amount for food, which may be lower than the value of a full chest freezer.
- Is there an excess? If the excess is close to the value of the food, a claim may not be worth making.
- Does a claim affect your no-claims discount? Ask before you claim, as this can change whether a small claim is worth it.
If you cannot find the answer, phone your insurer or broker before you throw anything away, if you can do so safely. They can tell you what they will need.
Tip: Planned cuts may be treated differently from unplanned ones. If you were given notice of a planned cut, an insurer could expect you to have taken steps to protect your food, so check the wording before you claim.
Is the food actually spoiled? Check before you claim
Not every power cut ruins your food, and you should not throw away safe food just to make a claim. According to food safety guidance from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland:
| Appliance | Roughly how long food stays safe with the door shut | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge | Up to about 4 hours | If chilled food has been above 8°C for more than 4 hours, don’t eat it |
| Full freezer | Up to about 48 hours | Estimate only; varies by model and room temperature |
| Half-full freezer | About 24 hours | Estimate only; keep the door closed |
A power cut of under 4 hours is unlikely to affect food safety. For a fuller explanation of what to keep and what to bin, see our guide on how long food lasts in the fridge and freezer in a power cut.
Safety: If in doubt, throw it out. Don’t taste food to check whether it has gone off, and take particular care with meat, fish, dairy, cooked rice and food for babies, pregnant women, older people or anyone with a weakened immune system.
Evidence to keep for an insurance claim
Insurers want to see that the loss happened, what it was worth and what caused it. Gather this before you clear out the freezer, where you can do so safely and hygienically.
- Photos and video of the open fridge and freezer showing the contents, packaging and any defrosted or leaking items. Include a shot of the thermometer if you have one.
- A written list of what you are throwing away, with rough quantities. Supermarket receipts, online shopping orders or loyalty card histories help show values.
- Proof of the power cut. Note when the power went off and came back. Keep any reference number from your call to 105, texts or emails from the network operator, and screenshots of the outage on the operator’s site or our postcode power cut checker.
- Any compensation letter from the network operator, which confirms the dates and length of the interruption.
- The age and condition of the appliance, in case the insurer asks whether a fault in the freezer itself played a part.
Ask the insurer whether they need to see the spoiled food itself before you dispose of it. Usually photos are enough, but it is better to check than to lose a claim.
If you rent, or you are a landlord
Tenants
Your landlord’s insurance normally covers the building and anything they own, not your belongings. The food in your freezer is yours, so it would come under your own contents insurance if you have it. If you do not have contents insurance, there is usually no one else to claim from for the food itself.
If the freezer belongs to the landlord and the food spoiled because the appliance broke, rather than because of a power cut, tell the landlord or letting agent about the fault promptly. Whether they are responsible for your food is a matter of your tenancy agreement and the circumstances, so Citizens Advice or Shelter can help if there is a dispute.
Landlords
If you provide a fridge or freezer, check whether your landlord policy covers appliances you supply, and remind tenants that their food is their own responsibility. Make sure tenants know how to report a power cut on 105 so it is logged quickly.
Shared houses and holiday lets
In shared houses, each person’s own contents policy covers their own food, if they have one. In holiday lets and short stays, check the booking terms and the owner’s insurance, and keep evidence in case you need to raise it with the host.
If your insurer refuses the claim
Ask for the reason in writing and check it against the exact policy wording. If you think the insurer has misread the policy or the cause of the loss, make a formal complaint to the insurer.
If you are still unhappy after the insurer’s final response, or the insurer has not replied within 8 weeks, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It is free to use. You must normally contact the ombudsman within 6 months of the date on the insurer’s final response.
The network operator’s compensation is a separate matter. If that has not arrived after a few months, contact the operator and, if needed, the Energy Ombudsman.
Reducing the loss next time
Insurance is a backstop. A few habits can keep food safe for longer and make a claim less likely:
- Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut during a cut. Every opening lets cold air out.
- Keep the freezer reasonably full. A full freezer holds its temperature for longer than a half-empty one.
- Keep a fridge thermometer in the fridge so you know the temperature when the power returns. It is a simple addition to a power cut emergency kit.
- For a planned cut, some network operators suggest turning the fridge and freezer to their coldest setting several hours beforehand.
- Sign up for free power cut alerts for your postcode so you know quickly when your area is affected.
When the power comes back, check the temperatures before restocking and give the appliance time to cool down. Our guide on what to check when the power comes back on walks you through it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim for food lost in a power cut from the electricity company?
No. Neither the network operator nor your energy supplier pays for spoiled food. You may be due a fixed payment if your power was off for a long time, which you can put towards replacing it.
Does home insurance cover a freezer breaking down?
It depends on the wording. A policy may cover food lost because the freezer itself broke down, food lost in a power cut, both or neither. The repair or replacement of the freezer itself is a separate question, often covered by a warranty or appliance cover rather than contents insurance.
Is it worth claiming for a freezer full of food?
Compare the value of the food with your excess and think about whether the claim affects your no-claims discount. For a small loss, a claim may cost you more over time than it pays out.
Do I need receipts to claim for spoiled food?
Not always, but they help. Photos of the contents and a list with approximate values are usually the minimum. Online order histories and loyalty card records can stand in for paper receipts.
What if my power cut was caused by a storm?
The cause of the power cut may matter less than the policy wording. If your freezer cover includes a failure of the public power supply, a storm cut may well be included, but check for exclusions and keep your evidence. The ABI’s storm advice simply says to check whether your contents policy covers this.
Your next step: find your contents insurance documents now, before the next power cut, and check whether freezer contents are covered, what the limit is and what the excess would be. Check our compensation page for what your network operator may owe you.
Sources
- ABI u2013 Is there any insurance cover in the event of disruption to power supplies?
- Ofgem u2013 Check if you can get a payment for a power cut
- NIE Networks u2013 Can I claim for freezer contents after a power cut?
- Financial Ombudsman Service u2013 How to complain
- SSEN u2013 Performance standards for demand customers 2026 (Guaranteed Standards leaflet)
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 money and your rights: Power Cut Compensation in the UK: How Much and How to Claim · All power cut guides