Power cut guide
How Long Do Power Cuts Last in the UK?
Quick answer: Most power cuts in Great Britain last from a few minutes to a few hours, and many customers are back on within an hour because operators can reroute power around a fault. Repairs that need digging or new equipment can take longer, and major storms can leave some homes off for days. Network operators must normally restore supply within 12 hours in normal weather, or pay compensation. Planned power cuts last for the time window shown on your notice.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
This guide explains how long different kinds of power cut usually last, why some take much longer than others, how to read an estimated restoration time, and what you are entitled to if a cut drags on. All the figures come from Ofgem and the network operators’ own published reports.
The short answer in numbers
Power cuts are less frequent, and usually shorter, than many people expect. A few published figures give a sense of scale:
- UK Power Networks, which covers London, the South East and the East of England, reported that in 2023/24 its customers lost an average of 29 minutes of supply over the whole year, and that a typical customer now has an interruption about once every 32 months. These figures exclude exceptional events such as severe storms.
- National Grid Electricity Distribution, which covers the Midlands, South West England and South Wales, reported that in 2024/25 its customers lost on average between about 25 and 50 minutes of supply across the year, depending on the region (again excluding exceptional events).
- The same operator restored between about 85% and 91.5% of customers affected by high-voltage faults within one hour in 2024/25.
These averages hide a lot of variation. Many homes go a whole year without a power cut, while a few have several. Homes at the end of long rural overhead lines tend to be affected more often than homes in towns with underground cables.
Typical durations by type of power cut
How long you are likely to be without power depends mostly on what caused the cut and where on the network the fault is.
| Type of power cut | Typical pattern | What decides how long |
|---|---|---|
| Brief flicker or a cut of a few seconds | Power returns on its own almost straight away | Automatic equipment clearing a passing fault, such as a branch brushing a line |
| Fault on the high-voltage network | Many homes back within an hour by switching power through another route; the rest once the damaged section is repaired | Whether the network can be rerouted around the fault, and how many homes sit beyond it |
| Fault on an underground street cable | Often a few hours, sometimes longer | Finding the exact fault, digging up the road, and repairing or replacing cable |
| Main fuse failure at one home | Engineer should attend within 3 to 4 hours | Engineer availability; the fix itself is usually quick |
| Storm damage to overhead lines | Most homes within a day; some for several days in the worst storms | Number of faults, safe access, fallen trees, the need to replace poles |
| Planned power cut | The time window given on your notice | The work being done; the notice must arrive at least two calendar days ahead |
To understand why these faults happen in the first place, from storms and lightning to cable damage during roadworks, read our guide on why power cuts happen.
Why some power cuts take much longer
If your neighbours across the road get their power back hours before you, it can feel unfair. Usually there is a practical reason.
Where the fault is
The network is a branching system. A fault close to a substation may affect thousands of homes but can often be bypassed quickly. A fault on the cable serving your street affects fewer homes but may need a physical repair before anyone on it gets power back.
What needs repairing
Resetting equipment or switching circuits can take minutes. Locating a fault on an underground cable, digging down to it, and making a safe joint takes hours. Replacing a damaged transformer or pole takes longer still, especially if heavy equipment has to reach a remote site.
Weather and safety
During storms, engineers may have to wait until it is safe to work on overhead lines, and fallen trees or flooding can block roads. Operators tend to repair the faults that restore the most customers first, then move on to smaller faults affecting a handful of homes.
Hidden second faults
Sometimes the main repair is finished and most of the area comes back, but a few homes stay off. This can happen when there is a second, smaller fault further down the line. If your neighbours have power back and you don’t, report it again on 105 so it isn’t missed.
Storms: when cuts last days
Severe storms are the main reason UK homes are left without power for a long time. When strong winds bring down trees across overhead lines over a wide area, operators can face thousands of separate faults at once.
Storm Arwen in November 2021 shows how this can play out. According to Ofgem’s review, nearly a million homes in Britain lost power. About 82% were reconnected within 24 hours, but nearly 4,000 homes were without power for more than a week.
Ofgem’s compensation rules recognise that storms are different. They set out two categories of severe weather, based on how many faults the weather causes compared with a normal day:
- Category 1: weather causing roughly 8 to 13 times the normal daily number of faults. Operators are expected to restore supply within 24 hours.
- Category 2: weather causing at least 13 times the normal daily number of faults. The standard is 48 hours.
If a storm is forecast, it makes sense to charge phones and power banks, find torches and think about how your household would cope for a day or two without power. Our guide to storm power cut compensation explains what you are owed if restoration takes longer than these limits.
Planned power cuts
Network operators sometimes switch off power on purpose so engineers can work safely on equipment, for example to replace an old cable or connect a new one. Your operator must give you at least two calendar days’ notice, and the notice tells you the date and the time window when your power may be off.
Work can finish before the end of the window, but plan for the full time. If the cut happens without proper notice, or on a different day, you may be entitled to £40 if you claim within one month. You can look up upcoming work in your area on our planned power cuts pages. Our guide to planned power cuts explains why they happen.
Understanding estimated restoration times
When a fault is reported, operators give an estimated restoration time. You will see it on power cut maps and hear it when you call 105. It is useful for planning, but it is only an estimate.
- Early estimates are rough. Before an engineer reaches the site, the operator may not know what has failed.
- Times can move in either direction. A quick switching fix can bring power back early, while finding a bigger problem can push the time back.
- Storm estimates are the hardest. In Storm Arwen, Ofgem found that 28% of customers were given a restoration time that was more than 24 hours out from when their power actually came back.
You can check your postcode for the latest estimate from your operator, alongside reports from neighbours. If the estimated time passes with no update, it’s worth calling 105 again.
Tip: Plan around the estimate plus a margin. If you rely on a battery for medical equipment or need to keep in touch, assume the cut could last a few hours longer than stated.
What the length of a cut means for you
A few hours without power is an inconvenience. A longer cut starts to affect food, warmth and anyone who depends on electrical equipment. This table gives a rough guide to what changes over time.
| Time without power | What to think about |
|---|---|
| Up to 4 hours | Food in a closed fridge should be fine. Keep doors shut and save phone battery. |
| 4 to 12 hours | Chilled food above 8°C for more than 4 hours should not be eaten. Homes cool down in winter, so wrap up early. |
| 12 to 24 hours | A half-full freezer may start to thaw after about 24 hours. In normal weather, compensation is now likely to apply. |
| Over 24 hours | A full freezer may hold for up to about 48 hours if kept shut. Vulnerable people may need welfare support or somewhere warm to stay. |
Our guide on how long food lasts in the fridge and freezer explains what to keep and what to throw away. If you rely on devices such as a router, a medical device or a home phone, our battery backup calculator can help you work out how long a battery could keep them running.
When a long cut means compensation
In Great Britain, if your power is off for longer than the guaranteed standards allow, the network operator must pay you. From April 2026, a home gets £100 if power is off for more than 12 hours in normal weather, plus £45 for each further 12 hours. If a single incident affects 5,000 or more properties, the payment starts after 24 hours and is capped at £400.
In storms, the payment is £90 after 24 hours (category 1) or 48 hours (category 2), then £45 for each further 6 hours, up to £2,235. Most payments are made automatically. Northern Ireland has its own standards, set by the Utility Regulator. For the full rules and how to chase a missing payment, read our guide to power cut compensation in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average length of a power cut in the UK?
There isn’t one simple figure, because short cuts and long storm outages are counted differently. Operators report the average minutes lost per customer per year instead. For example, UK Power Networks reported 29 minutes in 2023/24, excluding exceptional events. Most individual faults are fixed within a few hours.
Why did my power come back and then go off again?
Engineers sometimes restore power temporarily by switching, then switch it off again briefly to make a permanent repair. Automatic equipment can also try to reconnect a line after a fault. If it happens repeatedly, report it on 105.
How long can a power cut legally last?
There is no law that sets a maximum. Instead, Ofgem’s guaranteed standards require operators in Great Britain to pay compensation if they don’t restore supply within set times: usually 12 hours in normal weather, 24 hours if 5,000 or more homes are affected, and 24 or 48 hours in severe storms.
Why do I have more power cuts than friends in town?
Rural homes are often supplied by long overhead lines that are more exposed to wind, trees and lightning. Faults on these lines can affect a lot of homes and can take longer to reach and repair.
Do I get compensation for a short power cut?
Not usually for a single short cut. However, in Great Britain you can claim £100 if your power goes off four or more times, for at least three hours each time, between 1 April and 31 March.
If your power is off now, check your postcode for the latest estimate and keep the fridge and freezer shut. For everything else you can do while you wait, see our complete guide to what to do in a power cut.
Sources
- Ofgem u2013 Check if you can get a payment for a power cut
- Ofgem u2013 Full report following six-month review into networks' response to Storm Arwen
- National Grid Electricity Distribution u2013 Key performance targets (2024/25)
- UK Power Networks Annual Review 2023/24 u2013 Network reliability
- Powercut105 u2013 Energy Networks Association
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