Power Cut Guides
Practical, plain-English guides for power cuts in the UK: what to do in the first few minutes, keeping safe and warm, food in the fridge and freezer, compensation you may be owed, and how to be ready for the next one. Every guide is checked against official sources such as Ofgem, the network operators, the NHS and the Food Standards Agency, and lists them at the end.
Power off right now? Check your postcode for live updates, or call 105 (free, England, Scotland and Wales) – in Northern Ireland call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643. If there is danger to life, call 999.
During a power cut
- What to Do in a Power Cut: The Complete UK GuideA step-by-step plan for any UK power cut, from the first five minutes to the moment the lights come back, with links…
- How to Check if There’s a Power Cut in Your AreaFive quick ways to find out whether a power cut is affecting your street, and how to tell a network fault from…
- Calling 105: What Happens When You Report a Power Cut105 is the free power cut number for England, Scotland and Wales. Here is what to expect when you call, what to…
- Is It Just My House? Checking Your Fuse Box and Trip SwitchIf only your home has lost power, these safe checks on your consumer unit, trip switches and prepayment meter usually find the…
- How Long Do Power Cuts Last in the UK?Most UK power cuts are fixed within hours, often within one. Storms are the big exception. Here is what to expect and…
- Fallen Power Lines: What to Do and Who to CallSeen a fallen or sparking power line? Keep well back, call 999 if anyone is at risk and 105 to report damage.…
- Power Cut Safety: Candles, Generators and Carbon MonoxideCandles, camping stoves and generators cause real harm in power cuts. How to light, cook and stay warm safely, spot carbon monoxide…
- What to Check When the Power Comes Back OnPower back on? A step-by-step checklist for appliances, food, heating, alarms and devices, plus what to do if your neighbours have power…
Home, food and health
- The Priority Services Register ExplainedWho can join the free Priority Services Register, what extra help it gives in a power cut, how to sign up yourself…
- How Long Does Food Last in the Fridge and Freezer in a Power Cut?A fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours and a full freezer for about 48 if you keep the doors shut.…
- Keeping Warm in a Winter Power CutNo heating in a winter power cut? How to stay warm safely with layers, one warm room and flasks, which heat sources…
- Boilers, Heat Pumps and Heating After a Power CutWhy most central heating stops when the electricity goes off, how boilers, heat pumps and storage heaters behave when power returns, and…
- Medical Equipment and Power Cuts: How to Make a PlanA practical plan for households that rely on medical equipment: what to ask your supplier and clinical team, backup batteries, getting on…
- Looking After Babies, Older Relatives and Pets in a Power CutPractical, safe steps for looking after a baby, an older relative or neighbour, and pets including fish and reptiles when the power…
Money and your rights
- Power Cut Compensation in the UK: How Much and How to ClaimEvery Guaranteed Standard payment for power cuts in Great Britain, with worked examples, what is automatic, what you must claim and how…
- Storm Power Cut Compensation ExplainedHow severe weather payments work in Great Britain, what Category 1 and Category 2 storms mean, worked examples and what to do…
- Food Lost in a Power Cut: Will Insurance Pay?Whether insurance will pay for fridge and freezer food spoiled in a power cut, why compensation from the network operator is separate,…
- Network Operator or Energy Supplier: Who Do You Contact?Your network operator fixes the wires and power cuts; your energy supplier handles bills, meters and credit. Here is who to contact…
- Planned Power Cuts: Why They Happen and How Much Notice You GetWhy planned power cuts happen, how much notice the network operator must give, what to do if the date changes and when…
Being prepared
- Power Cut Emergency Kit: What to Keep at HomeA practical checklist of what to keep at home for a power cut, based on UK government Be Ready advice, plus where…
- Choosing a Portable Power Station for Power CutsWatt-hours, watts, battery types and runtime explained in plain English, with a worked example, so you can pick a portable power station…
- Home Generators for Power Cuts: Safety and SizingHow to size a generator for a power cut using running and starting watts, and how to use one safely: outdoors only,…
- How to Keep Your Wi-Fi On in a Power CutKeep your broadband going in a power cut with a small battery backup, find out how long it will last, and learn…
- Will My Phone, Broadband and Landline Work in a Power Cut?What keeps working in a power cut and what does not: digital landlines, broadband, mobiles, telecare alarms, and the free battery backup…
- Solar Panels and Home Batteries in a Power CutOrdinary solar panels shut down in a power cut for safety. Find out why, which battery set-ups can keep lights and the…
- Preparing Your Home for Storm Season Power CutsA practical storm-season checklist: what Met Office warning colours mean, what to do before a named storm arrives, and how to stay…
Understanding power cuts
- Why Do Power Cuts Happen? Common Causes in the UKStorms, trees, digging, worn-out equipment, animals and planned work: the real reasons UK homes lose power, and a plain-English guide to how…
- The UK’s Electricity Network Operators: Who Runs Your Local Network?A plain-English guide to the companies that own the cables and fix power cuts: the 14 licence areas in Great Britain, Northern…
- Power Cuts in Northern Ireland: NIE Networks and What’s DifferentWhat is different about power cuts in Northern Ireland: NIE Networks, PowerCheck, the Customer Care Register, NI compensation rules and how to…
- Power Cuts and Working From Home: Protecting Devices and DataPractical steps for home workers: set up autosave and cloud sync, keep the router going, protect a desktop with a UPS, get…
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