Power cut guide
Planned Power Cuts: Why They Happen and How Much Notice You Get
Quick answer: Network operators switch off the power on purpose so engineers can safely repair, upgrade or connect to the network. In England, Scotland and Wales they must give you at least 2 calendar days’ notice, usually by letter or card. If they don’t, or the cut happens on a different day from the one you were told, a home can claim £40 within 1 month.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
A planned power cut, sometimes called a planned interruption or planned outage, is one the network operator arranges in advance. This guide explains why they happen, what the notice should tell you, your rights if the plan changes, and how to get ready so the day goes smoothly.
Why planned power cuts happen
Electricity network operators own the cables, overhead lines, poles and substations that bring power to your home. Working on that equipment while it is live would put engineers at serious risk, so for many jobs the only safe option is to switch it off.
Common reasons include:
- Replacing old equipment, such as worn poles, overhead lines, underground cables or substation parts.
- Upgrading the network to carry more power, for example as demand in an area grows.
- Connecting new homes or businesses, or changing an existing supply at a customer’s request.
- Making the network more resilient to storms, so future unplanned cuts are less likely or shorter.
For the wider picture, our guide on how long power cuts last compares planned cuts with faults and storms.
How much notice you get
Under the Guaranteed Standards of Performance in Great Britain, the network operator must give you at least 2 calendar days’ notice before a planned cut. Many operators aim for more where they can. For example, SSEN says it aims to give 10 days’ notice when possible.
Notice usually arrives as a letter or card through your door, and some operators also send texts or emails if they hold your details. The notice should tell you:
- the date of the work
- the time the power is expected to go off and come back on
- a reference number and a contact number for questions
Some operators say power will not go off before the time on your letter, though work may start later than planned while engineers make the area safe. Power can come back earlier than stated, and neighbours on the same street may be restored at different times.
Tip: Letters about planned work can look like junk mail. If you see a card or letter from your network operator, open it and put the date on the calendar or in your phone straight away.
What if it changes or you get less notice?
Plans can change at short notice. Operators cancel or move work because of emergencies elsewhere on the network, bad weather, safety concerns or problems getting access. If work is cancelled, you should get a letter in advance or a text on the day.
Your rights depend on what happened:
| What happened | Can you claim? | Amount (home) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| You got at least 2 calendar days’ notice and the cut happened on the notified day | No, the standard was met | None | Not applicable |
| You got less than 2 calendar days’ notice, or none at all | Yes | £40 (£80 for a business) | Within 1 month |
| The cut went ahead on a different day from the one in the notice | Yes | £40 (£80 for a business) | Within 1 month |
| The work was cancelled and no cut happened | No payment under this standard | None | Not applicable |
| A planned cut ran on into a long interruption | Ask the operator whether the supply restoration standard applies | Check with the operator | Contact the operator promptly |
This £40 payment is one of the few you have to claim yourself. Contact the network operator by phone on 105 or through its website, giving your address, the date of the cut and what notice you received, if any. Keep the letter or card if you have it.
Our main guide to power cut compensation in the UK covers every payment, including the £40 extra if a payment that is due is made late.
Advance notice if you are on the Priority Services Register
Being on the Priority Services Register can mean you are told about planned cuts in advance, and some operators offer extra help on the day. The register is free and is open to people of state pension age, disabled people, people with a long-term medical condition, people who rely on medical equipment that needs electricity, families with children under 5, pregnant women, and others in vulnerable circumstances, even temporarily.
If someone in your home relies on electrically powered medical equipment, tell the operator as soon as you receive notice of a planned cut. It may be able to offer extra help, and you will need time to charge batteries and make a backup plan. Our guide to medical equipment and power cuts explains how to plan.
You can join through your network operator, by calling 105 or using its website, and through your energy supplier. Find out more on our Priority Services Register page.
Safety: If anyone in your home depends on equipment such as oxygen concentrators, home dialysis, ventilators or powered beds, don’t wait for the day. Contact the network operator and your equipment provider as soon as you know about the cut. In a medical emergency, call 999.
How to prepare for a planned power cut
A planned cut is easier to cope with than an unexpected one, because you can get ready. Use this checklist in the day or two before.
- Charge everything: phones, power banks, laptops, torches, and any battery-powered medical equipment. Check how long medical equipment batteries last.
- Plan for no Wi-Fi. Your router will go off, and a digital landline may not work without battery backup. Mobile data should keep working if the local mast has power.
- Protect sensitive equipment. Unplug or switch off TVs, computers and smart devices such as boiler controls before the cut, as some operators advise.
- Look after food. Some operators suggest turning the fridge and freezer to their coldest setting several hours beforehand. Keep the doors shut during the cut.
- Think about heating and hot water. Most boilers and heat pumps need electricity to run. Fill a flask with hot water and have warm layers ready in winter.
- Check stairlifts, electric gates and garage doors for a manual release, and charge an electric vehicle in advance if you’ll need it.
- Tell your alarm company if you have a monitored alarm, as it may sound or send an alert when the power goes.
- Don’t do any electrical work in your home while the power is off. The supply could come back at any time.
A small power cut emergency kit covers most of what you need, and the same kit will help in an unplanned cut too.
If you work from home
Planned cuts often fall during the working day. If you work from home, save your work, tell colleagues and plan somewhere else to work if you need internet access. Our guide on power cuts and working from home covers protecting devices and data.
Using a generator
Never connect a generator to your home’s wiring unless a qualified electrician has installed a proper changeover switch. Back-feeding power into the network can kill engineers working on the lines, which is exactly the work a planned cut is for. Some operators ask to be told if you plan to use a generator. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage or near windows or doors.
How to see planned power cuts in your area
Network operators publish details of planned work on their websites, usually searchable by postcode. You can also see planned work for your area on our planned power cuts pages, which bring operator information together in one place.
Saving your postcode on our postcode power cut checker also lets you sign up for free alerts, so you hear about cuts affecting your area. If the power goes off and you were not expecting it, check whether it matches a planned job before calling 105, as it may simply be scheduled work.
Planned cuts in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own rules. NIE Networks says it gives a minimum of 3 days’ notice, usually by postcard, and where possible it fits a generator at the local substation to reduce disruption. Under its current customer standards, a home can claim £25 (£50 for a business) if it does not give that notice, and the claim must be made within 1 month. NIE Networks’ PowerCheck map does not show planned work, so look at its planned work pages instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refuse a planned power cut?
Not usually. The work is needed to keep the network safe and reliable. If the date causes a serious problem, for example because of medical needs or a special event, contact the operator using the number on the letter. It may be able to help, but it cannot always move the work.
Why did my neighbour get a letter and I didn’t?
Letters can go astray or be delivered to the wrong address. If you lost power without receiving notice, you may be able to claim £40. Contact the operator within 1 month.
Will my energy supplier warn me about a planned cut?
Not normally. The network operator does the work and sends the notice. Your supplier bills you for electricity but is not responsible for the network.
Why is a planned power cut taking longer than the letter said?
Work can take longer than expected because of what engineers find on site, weather or safety issues. Call the number on the letter or 105 for an update.
Do planned power cuts happen at weekends?
They can. The notice will give the date and times, so check it carefully rather than assuming a weekday.
Your next step: if you have a planned cut coming up, put the date in your diary, charge your devices the night before and check our planned power cuts pages for any changes.
Sources
- SSEN u2013 Performance standards for demand customers 2026 (Guaranteed Standards leaflet)
- SSEN u2013 Your planned power cut explained: upgrading our network
- Ofgem u2013 Check if you can get a payment for a power cut
- NIE Networks u2013 Planned work
- NIE Networks u2013 Customer standards
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