Preparing for a Power Cut
If you are currently experiencing a power cut, do not read this page. Refer to our Actions in the Event of a Power Cut Guide.
How Likely are Power Cuts in the UK this Winter?
The media continue to focus on the increased risk of power cuts within the UK this winter. Reports stemmed from the publication of the Winter Outlook report by the National Grid ESO. With the invasion of Ukraine by Russia creating increased energy instability, the document considered a range of scenarios.
Scenario 1 - Reduced Imports of Electricity
In this scenario the normal import of electricity from France, Belgium and the Netherlands ceased, although smaller imports continued from Norway, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
There may be days when it is cold resulting in high demand, but with low levels of wind. The report states that it is expected that mitigation measures would be effective. If mitigations were not, it may be necessary to interrupt the supply to some customers for limited periods of time in a managed and controlled manner.
Scenario 2 - Reduce Imports of Electricity Combined with Insufficient Gas Supply in Great Britain
This scenario combines scenario one with an insufficient gas supply for generation during January. Should it occur, the report advises that it may be necessary to initiate the planned, controlled and temporary rota load shedding scheme under the Electricity Supply Emergency Code (ESEC). In reality, this means that some customers could be without power for pre-defined periods, generally assumed to be 3 hour blocks.
The extent of the planned outages would depend on the number of gas fired power stations that are unavailable and the duration for which there is insufficient gas to meet power station demand. Power cuts are more likely with this scenario, particularly during January if it is cold.
Preparing for Power Cuts
Whatever the likelihood of power cuts this winter, it makes sense to take simple steps now to ensure the safety of your family and to help life continue as close to normality as possible. No one wants to be the family in a cold house with a couple of candles and no matches! This guide explains the key areas which you should review to prepare your home, with hyperlinks to the carefully evaluated products.
Learn How to Check your Consumer Unit
When you have a few spare moments, 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.
In a suspected power cut, if you were to find any of the switches pointing downwards (often with a green mark showing), then they have tripped and turned off the power. It may not in fact be a power cut and the lights for example, can be restored by pushing the circuit breaker switch upwards.
Familiar Yourself with Reporting 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.
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.
Emergency Lighting
ln the event of a power cut in the evening, you may find yourself plunged into darkness without warning. Prepare by placing an emergency light in the hall, landing and near the electricity consumer unit. The lights simply plug into a UK 13A power socket to keep their batteries charged and in the event of a power cut, illuminate key areas of the home automatically, in a fraction of second. Instant lighting reduces the risk of slips or falls and enables immediate actions such as fetching further lights to occur safely. Emergency lights are particularly important in homes with frail or vulnerable people.
We provide two types of plug-in emergency light:
|
Provides 160 lumens of instant light for 3hrs (according to the manufacturer, 6:13hrs in our own tests). N.B. Light cannot be switch off until the power is restored. Can be rested on a surface or fixed to a wall or ceiling. |
 |
Robust rechargeable torch, with the bonus of an emergency light function when the charger is plugged in. Provides 550 lumens of instant light for 3 hours, or 275 lumens for 7 hours. Unlike the bulkhead light, it can be switched off to conserve power. |
A more discrete option is to install a small emergency light in the ceiling. Our ceiling mounted light pops through a 34mm hole and is hard wiring to the home lighting circuit.
Task Lighting
Whilst emergency lighting is vital to provide instant lower level illumination, it has two key limitations.
- The light level may not be sufficient for some tasks.
- The units illuminate from the moment of the power cut for at least 3 hours. With the exception of the professional torch, they cannot be switched off and if the power cut occurs during daylight hours, they may be flat by the evening.
Task lighting is important to enable essential activities to occur during a power cut.
Lights
|
Ideal for corridors and smaller rooms. Provides bright illumination for a constant 3 hours, with a lower light output up to 12 hours. Can be switched off to conserve battery power. Can be fixed to a surface using the enclosed Velcro pads, a single screw, or integral magnets. |
 |
Rechargeable portable work light, ideal for the bright illumination of larger rooms. Available in 10W, 20W and 30W. 10W unit provides 750 Lumens, with a 2.5 hour run time. |
Torches
Torches are a key part of any power cut survival plan. There are a number of key considerations when deciding which units to purchase:
- Power Source - At first it can seem tempting to opt for rechargeable torches to eliminate the risk of flat batteries. Whilst great for shorter power cuts, in the event of a prolonged outage, once the torch has gone flat, there's no means of charging it up. In contrast, torches with replaceable batteries can provide light for nights on end, simply by swapping their batteries.
- Beam Pattern - Many torches provide a narrow beam, great for illuminating objects in the distance and for use outside in a power cut. The left picture demonstrates how when used inside (distance of 3.5m from the fireplace) they result in a small really bright spot surrounded by poor wider illumination. In contrast, the right picture shows how a wider beam angle/flood pattern provides a much more even spread of light.
- Lamp Type- Older torches and current cheaper units use standard incandescent lamps (bulbs). These are the least efficient and will result in the shortest battery life. Halogen and xenon lamps are a little more efficient, but still power hungry. As enabling illumination for the longest time possible is the name of the game with power cut survival, torches should have an LED lamp, which provides the most efficient lighting, as far less power is converted into heat.
- Light Output - Light output is most commonly measured in lumen. As a rough guide, a single candle produces 12 lumen. Whilst it can be tempting to buy torches with huge light outputs, the brighter the light, the more power they will consume and the shorter the battery life. Slow and steady is the order of the day; buy torches with the light output required to undertake tasks during a power cut, not to illuminate your entire street.
- Consider that whilst manufacturers state the maximum lumen output, this is at the point of first switching it on with new/fully charged batteries. It is unavoidable that the output will reduce over time. We evaluated the output of all of our lights over 12 hours, with the graph below showing the variance. Units such as the work light and 10W work light are excellent for short term bright illumination, whilst the standard torch has an unrivalled output over a much longer period.
- Run Time - It can be easy to overestimate the run time of battery powered lights and it is a key factor often omitted from product pages. Our own evaluation detailed above, shows the variance between types of light. Always keep a sufficient supply of replacement batteries. Whilst the batteries have a self-life of up to 10 years, you may want to consider using one pack for general household use, so that you have a rolling replacement programme. Whilst our batteries have a self-life of up to 10 years, you may want to consider using one pack for general household use, so that you have a rolling replacement programme.
 |
Perfect for hands free use when walking around the home. |
 |
Rechargeable portable work light, ideal for the bright illumination of larger rooms. Available in 10W, 20W and 30W. 10W unit provides 750 Lumens, with a 2.5 hour run time. |
 |
The clear winner for prolonged illumination, with 70% light out for up to 4 hours and 40% up to 12 from a single set of batteries. |
 |
Robust rechargeable torch, high light output, USB power bank to charge USB devices, with the bonus of an emergency light function when the charger is plugged in. |
Power
The media often refer to power cuts common in the 1970s with an almost romantic vision of families huddled around a cable. There has since been an exponential increase in technology which is reliant on mains electricity; it has become embedded in every aspect of our lives.
These days lacking 4G signal or Wi-Fi on our phones for an hour can be enough to instil fear into many of us, let alone the thought of not being able to use a phone for days on end. With reliable electricity supplies, people living outside of rural areas may not have even experienced a power cut in the past decade.
Careful preparation is vital to ensure that you have sufficient power for key activities during a power cut.
Vehicle 12v USB Charging
In the absence of any other methods, phones and other USB powered devices can be charged by plugging them into a vehicle. Some provide USB sockets, whereas an adaptor will be required for the cigarette lighter socket in older vehicles. Check whether power is provided when the ignition is off.
Mains Inverter
If you have a petrol or diesel vehicle, a mains inverter can provide a cost effective solution to provide up to 300w of power. The unit connects to the vehicle's battery and converts 12v DC into 230v AC mains electricity. The output can fun devices such as TVs, laptop chargers and small appliances. If you have a gas/oil central heating system, if the mains in can be changed to a 13A plug, then it can be connected to provide the electricity the boiler needs to run, to keep your house warm.
There are four important factors to consider when purchasing an inverter, which are often overlooked by overly optimistic product ads! These are detailed further in our inverter advice guide.
Power Consumption
We only sell a 300w inverter. Whilst this may seem small, it is realistically the highest rating which can be used during a power cut from a standard car battery.
Connecting the Inverter
We do not recommend connecting the inverter via a vehicle cigarette lighter socket, as they are generally only rated at 10-15A.
Battery Life
The average car battery (50Ah) can supply a 300W inverter for 2 hours. For all but short term use, it is therefore advisable to keep the vehicle engine running.
Type of Electrical Output (Sine Wave)
Mains electricity is a pure sine wave - a smooth oscillating wave which moves up and down 50 times a second. Sensitive electronic equipment such as TVs, computers and phones are designed to be powered by electricity which is a pure sine wave. We verified the output of our inverter using an oscilloscope:
Unfortunately, many cheap inverters produce a wave which has a staggered blocky looking appearance. This can cause irreparable damage to sensitive equipment.
Vehicle to Load (V2L) Cable
If you own an Electric Vehicle (EV) which has the function to provide Vehicle to Load (V2L), a special cable can be used to provide mains 230v AC power from the car's batteries.
The cable simply plugs into the EVs type 2 charging socket and can supply up to 2.5kW of electricity (depending on car model, check manual) during a power cut.
Unfortunately V2L technology is only currently available on the following EVs:
- MG ZS (2022)
- MG 5 (Facelifted 2023)
- MG4 (2022)
- MG Marvel R
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Kia EV6
- Kia Niro EV 4
- Genesis Electric GV60/GV70
A small number of other EVs may have a UK 13A socket within the car, which can be used directly.
Inverter Generator
Generators provide the most viable option for provider higher levels of power for longer periods of time. Unlike a mains inverter or V2L cable, they are not reliant on batteries.
Inverter generators are generally the best choice for home back-up systems, as they provide a very stable pure sine wave output, with a consistent voltage and frequency which is as good as that from the mains supply. The increased stability makes them the ideal choice for powering sensitive electronic equipment.
Please see our Generator Advice Page for further information, including how to calculate the size of generator required.
We provide 1kW and 2kW high quality, compact, lightweight and portable inverter generators from the renowned generator manufacturer Hyundai. We'd advise steering clear of cheap or second hand generators.
The run time of a generator is limited by the availability of fuel. As petrol pumps will not be functioning during a power cut, ensure that you safely store sufficient fuel in metal jerry cans. In the UK you can store up to 30 litres of petrol at home provided that it is in suitable contains. For larger quantities you need to inform your local Petroleum Enforcement Authority (PEA), as detailed in this guide from the HSE.
Please visit our sister site Tough Leads for a range of heavy duty leads, adaptors and plug in power meters for larger home, commercial and event generators.
Solar Power Systems
If your home already has solar panels installed, they may have potential to provide a source of power during a power cut. However, do not assume the system will, as many are designed to shut down during a power cut.
Grid-tied systems are connected to the mains electricity supply, to enable excess solar generated power to be fed back into the grid. Most systems are designed to shut down to prevent solar generated power flowing back into the grid, posing a hazard to line workers. It is possible for grid tied systems to be set up to provide electricity power during a power cut through the use of a battery storage system. Solar systems generate power using a mains inverter and therefore have the same limitations as a stand-alone inverter. Without a huge battery set up, the power provided will not be significant or prolonged.
Heating
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/oil central heating will also not work, as although it uses gas/oil as a fuel, it requires electricity to ignite the fuel and then pump water around the system. You may be able to use the power from a mains inverter, V2L cable or generator to provide the small amount of electricity required to keep the boiler running. However, advice should be sought from an electrician, as some boilers require an earth/neutral link to be installed on the supply for the ignition system to function.
When used safely, portable indoor LPG gas heaters provide the most viable solution for longer durations. Ensure that you follow the safety instructions and there is adequate ventilation. Never use an outdoor heater indoors.
Don't forget the basics; dress warmly using several layers of clothing and use duvets and blankets. Wear a hat, as around 10% of body heat is lost through the head.
Food, Water and Cooking
Water
Prolonged power cuts may affect the water supply, so prepare with a couple of large suitable containers for water. Outside water butts provide an excellent source of dirty water to flush toilets.
Cooking
Avoid opening the fridge or freezer, instead using food from the cupboard.
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.
Unless you have at least a 2kW generator, there will not be enough power to boil an electric kettle. If you have a gas hob, plan ahead by purchasing a stove top kettle.
Microwaves may be able to be used if you have a sufficiently rated 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.
Plan ahead, to ensure that you have sufficient long-life meals that can be prepared with the cooking facilities you have.
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.
Landline and Mobile Telephones
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. Consider preparing with a solar phone charger for longer power cuts.
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. In a power cut only corded phones will work, as cordless phones require electricity. Prepare by ensuring that you have 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 already 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. If you wish to have a landline phone during a power cut, you need to invest in a more substantial battery back-up unit.
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), prepare by ensuring that they are in good condition.
It makes sense to equip your home with suitable fire extinguishers. Extinguishers sold for domestic use are often simply not up to the task, and ineffective in untrained hands. Our range of extinguishers have been carefully chosen to provide effective fire fighting in the home.
Help in an Emergency
Can you call 999?
Check that you have a means of calling 999 using a mobile or landline phone.
How easy is it for emergency services to find your address?
You can help emergency services find you by knowing the What3Words for your home. Every square meter of the world has been divided up into unique combinations of 3 random words, which the What3Word system allows you to communicate to emergency call takers.
In normal circumstances, leaving an outside light on can also really help emergency vehicles find your home. During a power cut, the absence of home or street lighting can make it more challenging for emergency services to find your. Our scene location light can be fixed to any metal surface via magnets in the base (car, gate), hung from a tree or simply placed on a post. It provides a bright 360 degree orange flashing light, which may help emergency services find your home.
First Aid
In a power cut, help may take longer to reach you. Prepare by buying a decent first aid kit. When searching for a suitable kit, we found many online were filled with non-compliant items, or items which had little practical use. We selected our kit for home use as it contains key high quality essentials and complies with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) minimum recommended content for a workplace of 1-10 people.
In the event that someone's heart stops beating (cardiac arrest) delivering a shock using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can make the difference between life and death. Anyone can use an AED, as the unit gives audible step by step instructions. If you call 999 for an ambulance for a cardiac arrest, you should be advised if an AED is within close walking distance of your home (typically 200-400m). However, you may not be informed of an AED further afield. Plan ahead by knowing where your nearest AED is located using the Defib Finder website.
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.