Power cut guide
Power Cut Emergency Kit: What to Keep at Home
Quick answer: Keep a torch with spare batteries, a battery or wind-up radio, a charged power bank, at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day for 3 days, food that needs no cooking, warm layers and blankets, a first aid kit, any essential medicines, some cash and a written list of phone numbers including 105. Store it all in one box or bag somewhere you can reach in the dark, and check it every six months. If anyone at home is a baby, older, or relies on medical equipment, add their specific supplies and join the Priority Services Register.
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 wants to be ready before the lights go out, whether that is a short evening cut or a storm that leaves a street without power for a day or more. The checklist follows the UK government’s Be Ready advice, which suggests having enough to manage on your own for about 3 days. You do not need to buy everything at once. Most households already own half of it and only need to gather it in one place.
Why a kit makes a power cut easier
Many power cuts are fixed within a few hours, but you rarely know at the start how long yours will last. A kit means you are not hunting for a torch by the light of a fading phone screen, and your phone battery stays free for calls and updates.
It also takes pressure off the emergency services. The government’s advice is that being able to look after yourself for a few days lets help reach the people who need it most. For a big storm, read our guide to preparing your home for storm season power cuts alongside this checklist.
The complete power cut emergency kit checklist
Use this table as a shopping and packing list. Quantities are for a 3-day kit, as the Be Ready campaign suggests.
| Category | What to keep | How much / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Battery or wind-up torch, head torch, spare batteries | One torch per adult if possible. Torches are much safer than candles. |
| News and information | Battery or wind-up FM radio | Write down the frequencies of your local and national stations. |
| Phone power | Power bank(s) and the right cables | Keep fully charged; top up every few months. |
| Water | Bottled drinking water | 3 litres per person per day for 3 days, plus extra for washing and cooking. |
| Food | Tins, dried fruit, nuts, cereal bars, crackers | 3 days of food that needs no fridge or cooking. Pick things you normally eat. |
| Tools | Manual tin opener, scissors, a lighter (for safe use only) | A tin opener is easy to forget and essential. |
| Warmth | Blankets, sleeping bags, hats, gloves, thick socks | Enough for everyone to keep warm in one room. |
| Hygiene | Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet roll, bin bags, sanitary products | Useful if water pressure drops too. |
| First aid | Plasters, bandages, sterile dressings, antiseptic, thermometer, gloves, tape, tweezers, eyewash | Check expiry dates. |
| Medicines | Essential prescription medicines and medical supplies | Plus a written list of medicines and doses. |
| Money | Cash in notes and coins | Card machines and cash machines may not work. |
| Paperwork | Copies of ID, insurance details, medical equipment instructions | Keep in a waterproof wallet. |
| Contacts | Paper list of phone numbers | Include 105, your network operator, family, neighbours, GP and care providers. |
| Safety | Battery carbon monoxide alarm, working smoke alarms | Test smoke alarms monthly. |
Light without fire
Candles cause house fires every year, and in a power cut people tend to light several at once and leave them near curtains or children. A good LED torch and a head torch (which leaves your hands free) cover almost every job. Battery-powered LED lanterns are handy for lighting a whole room. If you do use candles, our guide to power cut safety with candles, generators and carbon monoxide explains how to do it safely.
Keeping connected
A battery or wind-up radio is the most reliable way to hear local news if the mobile network and broadband go down. A charged power bank keeps one or two phones going for a long time if you dim the screen and close apps you are not using.
If you have a digital landline, it is worth knowing it will usually stop working in a power cut unless it has battery backup. Our guide to whether your phone, broadband and landline will work in a power cut explains what to expect and what your provider must offer. If you want to keep your internet going too, see how to keep your Wi-Fi on in a power cut.
Tip: Save 105 in your mobile phone as “Power cut” and also write it on paper. It is free from landlines and mobiles in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, use NIE Networks on 03457 643 643.
Where to keep your kit
The best place is somewhere everyone in the house knows about and can reach in the dark without climbing or moving furniture. A cupboard under the stairs, a kitchen cupboard near the back door or a large box in a hallway cupboard all work well.
- Keep the torch on top or in a fixed spot, so it is the first thing your hand finds.
- Use one sturdy box or bag rather than spreading items across rooms. A plastic crate with a lid keeps damp out.
- Keep water separately if it is heavy, but nearby, and somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
- Keep a small torch by each bed as well, so nobody has to walk through the house in total darkness.
- Keep a smaller grab bag with essentials (medicines, documents, phone charger, torch, a snack and water) in case you need to leave home quickly.
The government also suggests keeping a few basics in your car: a torch, a phone charger, warm clothes, a blanket, some food and water, and in winter, a shovel.
Checking your kit twice a year
A kit only helps if it works on the night. The Be Ready advice is to check it every six months. An easy way to remember is to do it when the clocks change in late March and late October, just before the stormier months.
- Switch on every torch and the radio. Replace weak batteries and keep the old ones out of the kit.
- Charge power banks to full. Lithium batteries slowly lose charge even when unused.
- Check use-by and best-before dates on food and bottled water. Eat what is close to its date and replace it.
- Check medicines and first aid items for expiry dates.
- Update your phone number list, especially if a neighbour has moved or a care provider has changed.
- Test smoke alarms and your carbon monoxide alarm.
- Think about any changes at home, such as a new baby, an older relative moving in, a new pet or new medical equipment, and add what they need.
Charge power banks somewhere you can keep an eye on them, not overnight or while you are out. Fire Scotland advises unplugging lithium-ion batteries once they are full and never covering them while charging.
Extras for families with babies and young children
Young children feel the cold quickly and can find a dark house frightening. A few extras make a big difference.
- Ready-to-feed baby formula. The government advises this over powdered formula, which may not be safe to make up without boiling water.
- Nappies, wipes and spare clothes for at least 3 days.
- A small battery night light or glow sticks, which children can hold safely.
- Books, cards and simple games that need no power.
- Extra blankets, hats and sleepsuits, as babies cannot regulate their temperature as well as adults.
Households with children under 5 can usually join the Priority Services Register. Our guide on looking after babies, older relatives and pets in a power cut has more detail.
Extras for older people and anyone who needs extra help
Older people are more at risk from the cold, and a dark house increases the chance of falls. If you look after someone who lives alone, make a simple plan with them now.
- Bright, easy-to-use torches or lanterns placed by the bed and chair.
- A spare pair of glasses and hearing aid batteries.
- Extra layers, a hot water bottle (only fill it if you have a safe way to heat water) and a hat for sleeping.
- A large-print list of phone numbers by the phone.
- An agreed neighbour or relative who will check in if the power goes off.
- A corded phone if they still have a traditional landline, as cordless phones need mains power.
For staying warm without heating, see our guide to keeping warm in a winter power cut. Anyone of state pension age, disabled or with a long-term health condition can join the Priority Services Register for free, which can mean priority updates and, in long cuts, extra welfare support where available.
Extras if someone relies on medical equipment
If anyone at home uses equipment that needs electricity, such as oxygen concentrators, home dialysis, feeding pumps, powered beds or mattresses, or stores medicine in the fridge, a general kit is not enough. You need a plan agreed with the clinical team or equipment supplier.
- Ask the supplier how long the device’s own battery lasts and whether it can run from a backup.
- Keep printed instructions, and the supplier’s 24-hour number, in your kit.
- Ask whether you should have a backup (for example oxygen cylinders) and how to get it.
- Know where you would go if a cut lasted longer than the backup, such as a relative’s home.
- Join the Priority Services Register with both your network operator and your energy supplier.
Some households use a battery power station to keep small devices running. Our guide to choosing a portable power station for power cuts explains how to work out whether one would last long enough, but always check with the equipment’s maker before powering medical equipment from one.
Safety: If someone’s life depends on a medical device and the power goes off with no working backup, call 999. Do not wait for the power to return.
Bigger backup: power stations, generators and solar
A basic kit covers most power cuts. If you live in a rural area that often loses power for long periods, or you work from home, you might consider more.
- Portable power stations are large rechargeable batteries with sockets. They are silent, produce no fumes and are safe indoors.
- Generators can run more for longer but must only ever be used outdoors. Read home generators for power cuts: safety and sizing before buying one.
- Solar panels on their own switch off in a power cut for safety. Only systems with a battery and a backup function can keep some circuits running. Our guide on solar panels and home batteries in a power cut explains the difference.
Safety: Never use a generator, barbecue, camping stove or patio heater indoors, in a garage or near open windows and doors. Carbon monoxide has no smell and can kill. Headaches, dizziness, feeling sick and confusion can be signs of poisoning: get into fresh air and call 999 if someone is seriously unwell.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single most useful thing to have in a power cut?
A reliable torch with spare batteries. It makes everything else easier and safer, and it is far safer than candles. A charged power bank comes a close second.
How much water should I store for a power cut?
The government suggests 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, for 3 days, plus extra for washing and cooking. Mains water usually keeps flowing in a power cut, but stored water covers you if it does not.
Should I keep candles in my emergency kit?
Torches are the safer choice. If you keep candles, use sturdy holders, keep them away from curtains, children and pets, and never leave them burning in an empty room or while you sleep.
How often should I check my power cut kit?
Every six months. Many people do it when the clocks change in spring and autumn. Test torches and the radio, charge power banks and replace anything past its date.
Is a power cut emergency kit the same as a grab bag?
Not quite. The home kit is for staying put, so it includes bulkier things like blankets and water. A grab bag is smaller and holds essentials such as medicines, documents, a torch and a charger, in case you have to leave quickly.
Your next step: gather what you already own into one box tonight, then make a short list of what is missing and pick it up on your next shop. Save our emergency numbers page on your phone. If the power goes off, check your postcode to see whether the cut is local and when it is expected back.
Sources
- Be Ready (UK Government) u2013 Be ready for emergencies
- Be Ready (UK Government) u2013 Power cuts
- Ofcom u2013 Landlines and power cuts
- NHS u2013 Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Fire Scotland u2013 Lithium-ion batteries
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.