Power cut: what to do

By the Bunkerley team

Sources awaiting check

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Your home in a power cut: household plan

Worked example

For 2 adults, 1 older person, 1 child, 1 pet, with a telecare alarm; gas boiler, electric cooker and a landline through the broadband router:

  • Stops working: gas boiler (combi or system), electric or induction hob and oven, landline that plugs into your broadband router, broadband and wifi router, fridge and freezer, lights.
  • First hour: 7 steps, starting "Check whether it's just your home: look at your fuse box for a tripped switch, and see if neighbours' lights are off too."
  • Who to call: 105 (power cut helpline (great britain)), 999 (emergency services), 111 (nhs non-emergency help).
  • Kit to keep: 14 items, with the everyday ones marked so you can check what you already have.

Source: National Grid, awaiting check; Power Cut 105, awaiting check; gov.uk Prepare, awaiting check; Ofcom, awaiting check; Food Standards Agency, awaiting check; Priority Services Register, awaiting check; British Red Cross, awaiting check; NHS, awaiting check

This guide is for anyone whose power has just gone off, or who wants to know what to do next time. It follows official advice from gov.uk Prepare and the electricity network operators. The plan above turns the same advice into steps for your own home.

The short answer

  1. Check whether it's just your home: look at your fuse box and at your neighbours' lights.
  2. If it isn't a tripped switch, call 105 or check your network operator's website for updates.
  3. Use torches or battery lanterns, not candles.
  4. Switch off anything that could be dangerous if it came back on while you're not watching. Leave one light on.
  5. Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed.

If anyone is in danger, call 999.

Is it just your home?

Start with your fuse box (also called a consumer unit). If a switch has tripped, the problem may be inside your home rather than on the network.

Then look outside. If your neighbours' lights and street lights are off too, it's likely to be a wider power cut.

Who to call

Call 105. It puts you through to your local network operator: the company that runs the cables to your home and fixes power cuts. That's usually not the company you pay your bill to.

You can also check your network operator's website for updates. Our who to call finder links to the right operator for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The first hour

Keeping warm, fed and in touch

Warmth. Many heating systems need electricity, including most gas boilers. Keep warm in one room: close doors and curtains, wear layers and use blankets. Never use a gas oven, hob, barbecue or camping stove to heat a room. See does a gas boiler work in a power cut?

Food and drink. Eat food that doesn't need cooking. If your water supply is affected too, drink your stored water. Our no-cook food planner helps you plan ahead.

Phones. Save battery: turn on low-power mode and top up from a power bank. A landline that plugs into your broadband router stops working when the router loses power, unless it has a battery backup.

News. Listen to local radio on a battery or wind-up radio for updates.

If someone at home needs extra help

If anyone relies on medical equipment, check it's running on its battery and follow the backup plan agreed with your supplier. If someone's health is at risk, call 999.

If someone has a telecare or personal alarm, check it still has power and signal. If it doesn't, make sure they have a charged mobile to hand.

For babies, use ready-made formula from your kit if you can't sterilise bottles or boil water. Keep pets in a warm room with water and their usual food.

The Priority Services Register is free. It tells your network operator that your household may need extra help in a power cut. You join through your energy supplier or network operator.

When the power comes back

When to get help

This guide follows official advice. It can't tell you when your power will come back: your network operator's updates are the place for that.

FAQs

What should I do first when the power goes out?

Check your fuse box for a tripped switch and see whether your neighbours have power. If it's not just you, call 105.

Should I unplug electronics during a power cut?

Switch off anything that could be dangerous if it came back on while you're not watching, such as hobs, heaters and irons. Leave one light on so you know when the power has returned.

Is it safe to use candles?

Official advice is to use torches or battery lanterns rather than candles.

What should I do if the power goes out while I'm cooking?

Switch the cooker off so it doesn't come back on unattended. Then eat food that doesn't need cooking.

How can I prepare for a power cut at night?

Keep a torch where you can find it in the dark, with spare batteries. Our power cut checklist covers the rest.

Tools for this

Sources