Power cut guide
The UK’s Electricity Network Operators: Who Runs Your Local Network?
Quick answer: Your local electricity network is run by a distribution network operator (DNO), not the company that sends your bill. Great Britain is divided into 14 licence areas run by six groups: UK Power Networks, National Grid Electricity Distribution, SSEN, SP Energy Networks, Northern Powergrid and Electricity North West. Northern Ireland is covered by NIE Networks. To find yours, check your postcode on our site or call 105, which connects you automatically in England, Scotland and Wales.
Is the power off where you are? See live power cuts from the network operators and reports from neighbours.
Knowing who runs your local network is useful when the power goes off, when you’re due compensation, or when you want to join the Priority Services Register. This guide lists every operator and the areas they cover, explains independent networks on new-build estates, and covers Northern Ireland and the islands.
What a network operator does
Electricity reaches your home in stages. The national transmission network moves power long distances on high-voltage lines. Your local distribution network then carries it along poles, underground cables and substations to your street and your meter. The company that owns and runs that local network is your network operator.
Network operators:
- find and repair faults, and restore power after a cut;
- carry out planned work and must warn you in advance;
- deal with damaged lines, substations and the main fuse in your meter cupboard;
- make most compensation payments when standards aren’t met;
- run a Priority Services Register for people who need extra help;
- handle new connections and connecting solar panels, batteries and EV chargers.
You don’t choose your network operator. It’s decided by where you live, and it stays the same if you switch energy supplier. Our guide to network operators and energy suppliers explains which one to contact about what.
The 14 licence areas in Great Britain
Each operator holds a licence from Ofgem, the energy regulator, for a specific area. Each area has a two-digit distributor ID, which also forms the first two digits of the long meter point number (MPAN) printed on your electricity bill. That’s a handy way to confirm your operator if you’re near a boundary.
| Group | Licence area | Distributor ID | Broadly covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Power Networks | Eastern England | 10 | East Anglia and the East of England |
| UK Power Networks | London | 12 | Greater London |
| UK Power Networks | South Eastern England | 19 | Kent, Sussex and parts of Surrey |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | East Midlands | 11 | The East Midlands |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | West Midlands | 14 | The West Midlands |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | South Wales | 21 | South and west Wales |
| National Grid Electricity Distribution | South Western England | 22 | The South West of England |
| SP Energy Networks | Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales | 13 | Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales |
| SP Energy Networks | Southern Scotland | 18 | Central and southern Scotland |
| Northern Powergrid | North Eastern England | 15 | The North East of England |
| Northern Powergrid | Yorkshire | 23 | Yorkshire |
| Electricity North West | North Western England | 16 | The North West of England |
| SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) | Northern Scotland | 17 | The north of Scotland, including the Highlands and most Scottish islands |
| SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) | Southern England | 20 | Central southern England |
Licence boundaries follow the old regional electricity board areas, not county or council lines, so the “broadly covers” column is only a guide. Towns near a boundary can be on either side. If in doubt, use your postcode or the distributor ID on your bill.
Tip: Electricity North West is now part of the same parent group as SP Energy Networks, but it still runs the North West network under its own name. You’ll see “Electricity North West” on letters, websites and power cut maps.
A quick look at each group
UK Power Networks
Runs three licence areas: London, the East of England and the South East. It serves some of the most densely populated parts of the country, where much of the network is underground.
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED)
Runs four licence areas across the Midlands, South Wales and the South West. It was formerly known as Western Power Distribution, so you may still see that name on older paperwork. It is separate from the national transmission system, although both belong to the National Grid group.
SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks)
Runs two very different areas: the north of Scotland, with long rural lines and many islands, and central southern England.
SP Energy Networks
Runs central and southern Scotland, plus Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.
Northern Powergrid
Runs the North East of England and Yorkshire.
Electricity North West
The only group with a single licence area, covering the North West of England.
Northern Ireland: NIE Networks
NIE Networks owns and runs the electricity network across Northern Ireland. The 105 number doesn’t cover Northern Ireland, so to report a power cut there, call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643.
Compensation and service standards in Northern Ireland are set by the Utility Regulator rather than Ofgem, so the amounts and rules differ from Great Britain. Our guide to power cuts in Northern Ireland covers what’s different.
Independent network operators (IDNOs)
Some newer housing estates, business parks and developments are connected to a smaller network run by an independent distribution network operator, or IDNO. The IDNO owns the cables and equipment on the estate itself, which then connect to the main regional network.
- Each IDNO has its own distributor ID, numbered from 24 upwards, so it can be told apart from the 14 regional areas.
- Your bill will show the IDNO’s distributor ID rather than the regional one.
- You still call 105 in a power cut. You’ll be routed to the right operator, and if the fault is on the regional network, that operator will fix it.
If you’ve moved into a new-build home and aren’t sure who runs the network, the distributor ID on your bill is the most reliable way to check.
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man aren’t part of the UK and aren’t covered by Ofgem, the 105 number or the Great Britain compensation rules. Each has its own utility running the island network:
| Island | Who runs the electricity network |
|---|---|
| Jersey | Jersey Electricity |
| Guernsey | Guernsey Electricity |
| Isle of Man | Manx Utilities |
If you live on one of these islands, save the emergency number from your utility’s website or bill in your phone, as it’s the number to call when the power goes off.
Scottish islands such as Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are part of the UK, served by SSEN, and covered by 105 like the rest of Great Britain.
How to find your network operator
There are several quick ways to find out who runs your local network:
- Use your postcode. Check your postcode on our site to see your operator, any live power cuts nearby and reports from neighbours.
- Browse by operator. Our page listing all UK network operators has contact details and links to each company’s power cut map.
- Look at your bill. The first two digits of your MPAN are your distributor ID. Match it to the table above.
- Call 105. In England, Scotland and Wales, 105 is free from landlines and mobiles and puts you through to your local operator automatically.
You can also browse power cuts by region if you’d like to see what’s happening across a wider area.
Why it matters which operator you have
Most of the time you’ll never need to think about it. But knowing your operator helps in a few situations:
- In a power cut: you can go straight to the right power cut map or app for updates and estimated restoration times.
- Planned work: notices about planned cuts come from your operator, not your supplier.
- Priority Services Register: registering with your operator as well as your supplier means the people restoring your power know you need extra help.
- Compensation: your operator makes guaranteed standards payments, and is the one to contact if a payment hasn’t arrived.
- Trees and damage: reports of trees near lines or damaged equipment go to your operator.
When you report a cut, it helps to know what to expect on the call. Our guide to calling 105 walks you through it. If you’ve been off for a long time, our compensation page explains what you could be owed.
Frequently asked questions
How many electricity network operators are there in the UK?
Great Britain has six groups running 14 licence areas, and Northern Ireland has NIE Networks. On top of that, a number of independent network operators (IDNOs) run smaller networks, mostly on newer developments.
Is my energy supplier the same as my network operator?
No. Your supplier sells you electricity and sends bills. Your network operator owns the cables and fixes power cuts. Switching supplier doesn’t change your network operator.
How do I find my DNO from my electricity bill?
Look for the long MPAN number on your bill, sometimes in a box marked “S”. The first two digits are your distributor ID: 10 to 23 are the regional operators, and higher numbers are independent networks.
Does 105 work in Northern Ireland or the Channel Islands?
No. 105 covers England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643. In Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, contact your island’s electricity utility.
Can I choose a different network operator?
No. Your network operator depends on where your home is connected. You can switch energy supplier, but the same operator will continue to run your local network.
Your next step: use the postcode search on our home page to confirm your operator, then save 105 (or your local power cut number) in your phone so it’s ready when you need it. To understand what tends to go wrong on these networks, read why power cuts happen.
Sources
- Energy Networks Association u2013 Find my network operator
- National Grid u2013 Who is my distribution network operator?
- National Grid u2013 Electricity transmission vs electricity distribution
- Jersey Electricity u2013 What to do in the event of a power cut
- Guernsey Electricity
- Isle of Man Today u2013 Storm Eowyn power cuts hit island
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 understanding power cuts: Why Do Power Cuts Happen? Common Causes in the UK · All power cut guides