Is it actually a power cut?

Check your Pre-payment Meter

If you have a pre-payment meter, check that you have not simply run out of credit.

Check if Other Lights or Appliances in your Home Still Work

Check if any of the lights or appliances work within your home. If any still do, then it is an issue within your home, not a power cut. Check your consumer unit.

Check your Consumer Unit

Take a look at your home electricity consumer unit, which will be located close to your electricity meter. This is often still referred to as a ‘fuse board’, even though modern units don’t use fuses. The unit will have a line of circuit breakers, each with what looks like a little switch. Normally all of the switches will point upwards, often with a small red mark showing.

If any of the switches are pointing downwards (often with a green mark showing), turn them back on. If they trip again, then it is most likely to be a fault with a circuit – contact an electrician.

If all switches are pointing upwards, check if you have an RCD. An RCD is twice the width of the other circuit breakers and will have a small test button (circled in the picture below). Try pushing the switch on any RCD fully downwards (off) and then upwards (on).

If there is no power in your home, all of the switches are pointing upwards and you’ve turned any RCDs off/on, then it’s most likely to be a power cut.

Check your Street

Check if the street lamps outside your home are still on and if neighbours have power. If street lamps are off and neighbours also do not have power, then it is likely to be a power cut.

How do I Report a Power Cut?

The single free number to report a power cut is 105 for England, Wales and Scotland (Text phone users dial 18001105 to use Text Relay) and 03457 643643 for Northern Ireland.

You can also find live information and report a power cut from your local Distribution Network Operator’s website. Some also provide a phone app, which allows you to set alerts to receive a push notification if a power cut is reported in any street, which can be useful for elderly or vulnerable relatives.

You are probably more familiar with your electricity supplier; the company you pay for your electricity. The supplier is often different to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). You cannot choose who your DNO is; they are responsible for the local network of power lines and underground cables that bring electricity to your home. In the case of a power cut, you need to link with your DNO, not the supplier. If you are not sure who your DNO is, click here for a postcode finder and interactive map of the UK.

What should I respond to a power cut?

Lighting

The age old British tradition of resorting to the 18th century lighting method of candles during a power cut must be avoided. Candles produce very little light compared to a torch. A lumen is a way of measuring the light emitted from source; a candle produces just 12 lumen, compared to 150 lumen from even a small torch.

With such low levels of light, the risk of tripping over or tipping the candle over are increased, presenting a real risk of fire. Given the relatively low cost of a torch, every home in the UK should have at least one. Whilst rechargeable torches may be useful for immediate light, in longer power cuts they will soon become flat and unable to be recharged. A battery powered torch with a spare sets of batteries is the best option. If you haven't got a stock of new batteries and your torch starts to run out, look through household gadgets and if you have them, children's toys, to extra stock.

If you’ve prepared for a power cut with one of our emergency lights, then this will illuminate the moment the power fails, ensuring that you can respond safely within your home to get further lights. We supply a range of carefully selected lights to help you get through a power cut.

Check Appliances and Lights

When power is restored, there is a risk of a surge happening, which can damage sensitive equipment such as TV and computers. Switch them off at the socket.

It’s easy to forget what you were using when the power went off. Check your home for any other appliances which may be hazard if they unexpectedly turn back on e.g. fires, cookers, irons and hair straighteners. Switch them off at the socket.

Leave a light switched on, so that you know when power is restored. When power is restored turn your appliances back on one at a time.

Fridge and Freezer

As rough guide, a full freezer will keep food frozen for up to 36-48 hours if the door remains closed. A half full freezer will only keep food frozen for up to 24 hours. Keep the door closed, as opening it will significantly reduce this time. Refer to the appliance manual for more information.

Unopened, a fridge can keep food at a safe temperature for at least four hours.

Placing a blanket or duvet over the freezer and fridge may help to keep food colder for longer. Take care not to cover up the back of the unit, as it may result in over heating when the power is restored.

The safe temperature for a fridge is 0°C to 5°C, with 8°C or higher considered the danger zone. Freezers must be kept below -18°C. If your fridge or freezer has a thermometer, check it regularly, so that you know if it exceeds a safe temperature. This can be vital to knowing whether you can safely keep, or need to throw out all of the contents. If the appliance doesn’t have a thermometer, consider purchasing a separate one here.

Heating

Dress warmly using several layers of clothing. As around 10% of body heat is lost through you head, don’t forget a hat.

Electric heating will obviously not work during a power cut and there is really no way of powering it without a rather large generator.

Gas central heating will also not work, as although it uses gas as a fuel, it requires electricity to ignite and then pump water around the system. If you prepared for a power cut, you can use your mains inverter or generator to provide electricity to the boiler, keeping your home warm.

Portable indoor LPG gas heaters can be useful to provide a source of heat. Ensure that you follow the safety instructions and there is adequate ventilation. Never use an outdoor heater indoors.

Food, Water and Cooking 

Avoid opening the fridge or freezer, instead using food from the cupboard.

Prolonged power cuts may affect the water supply, so fill a couple of large suitable containers with water. Outside water butts provide an excellent source of dirty water to flush toilets.

Electric cookers cannot be used during a power cut and the generator required to power them would be impractically large. If you have a gas hob this can be an excellent option. However, remember that it will not ignite without the electricity required to make the spark. Prepare for a power cut by keeping a gas powered lighter.

Microwaves can be used if you have prepared with a suitable inverter generator.

Barbeques must never be used inside. However, if safely used outside they can provide a great option for cooking, including boiling water if they have a gas ring.

Power

Unless you've prepared before hand, there are no easy options to get electricity during a power cut. However, if you have a motor vehicle, it can be an excellent way of charging your phone or other USB powered devices.

For future, you can prepare to create your own back-up power using any of the following methods:

	Mains inverter which can connect to a petrol/diesel car to produce electricity.
	Vehicle to Load (V2L) cable which connects to the charging port of an electric vehicle (only available for a small number of models) to provide electricity.
	Inverter generator which uses unleaded fuel to generate electricity.

 

Landline and Mobile Telephones

Check that your mobile phone still has signal. In a power cut mobile phone masts often have back-up power supplies, but these may not outlast a prolonged outage. In an emergency, a mobile phone will connect to any available network, not just the one you are with, to enable a 999 call to be made.

Whilst it can be tempting to use your phone to pass the time, think ahead and plan for an extended power cut. Turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off and lower the screen brightness to reduce power consumption. If you have more than one mobile phone in your house, turn at least one off, so that you have a back-up to use later or in an emergency. If you have a motor vehicle, it can be an excellent way of charging your phone. 

Landline phones have traditionally been connected to the telephone network known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The system works in a power cut, as the telephone exchange has a back-up power supply, which enables power to be sent down the copper phone wires.

You still have a PSTN connection if your phone is connected directly to a telephone socket. Check that your landline phone is still working. In a power cut only corded phones will work, as cordless phones require electricity. If you are prepared, you may have considered buying a corded phone.

The PTSN network is being retired from December 2025. Landline phones will still be provided, but they will operate digitally using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) via a broadband connection. If you have a VoIP phone, it will be plugged into your broadband router. Further details on the move to VoIP can be found here.

One disadvantage of the VoIP landline phones that we will all be getting over the coming years is that they do not work in a power cut, as they rely on the broadband router, which needs electricity. BT may provide a battery back-up unit to customers in locations vulnerable to power cuts, but they generally only provide an hour’s back-up.

Radio

During a major power cut, a radio can provide an excellent means of getting key updates. Ensure that you have one which is wind up, solar or battery powered.

Fire Safety

Avoiding the use of candles, removes the biggest risk of fire during a power cut.

If you have mains powered smoke alarms fitted in your home which have replaceable 9v batteries (many have built in rechargeable batteries instead), ensure that they are still working in the power cut.

Help in an Emergency

Keep a basic first aid kit, as help may take longer to reach you during a power cut.

Check that you have a means of calling 999 using a mobile or landline phone.

Household Members with Medical Needs

If the medical or personal circumstances of anyone in your home means that they may need extra help during a power cut, electricity suppliers can support you. Register online for free as a Priority Services Member. Priority Service Members get advanced notice of any planned power cuts, regular updates, alternative heating and cooking facilities and in some cases even alternative accommodation. In a prolonged power cut, the emergency services will often access a list of local Priority Service Members.