Power cuts & faults
What to do if your electricity goes off
Work out who to contact, what you can check safely and how to stay safe while the power is off.
Check how much of the property is affected
Are all the lights and sockets off, or only one room or circuit? Ask a neighbour whether they also have power, if you can do so safely. This helps describe the problem, but neighbours having power does not rule out a supply fault at your property.
Check for a network power cut
Call 105 free in Great Britain to reach your local electricity network operator, or use Power Cut 105 to find the operator for your postcode. They handle faults on the electricity network. Your energy supplier handles your account and meter-credit questions.
If it appears to be only your home
If the consumer unit is dry, undamaged and safely accessible, you can look at its labelled switch positions without removing any covers. A tripped protective device can indicate a fault. Do not repeatedly reset it, interfere with the meter or incoming supply, or attempt wiring repairs.
For a prepayment meter, check the displayed credit or message and follow your supplier’s guidance. If you cannot identify the cause, describe what is affected to the network operator or an electrician.
While you wait
- Use a battery torch rather than candles.
- Switch off cooking and heating appliances so they cannot restart unattended when power returns.
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed and check food-safety advice if the outage continues.
- Check on anyone nearby who may need help. Internet-based phones may not work without power.
If you depend on powered medical equipment, follow your equipment provider’s power-failure plan. For an immediate medical emergency call 999. Ask your supplier or network operator about the Priority Services Register for additional support.
Help with a fault inside your property
Tell us your location, whether the whole property is affected, what happened before the outage and any warning signs. Call TMMRAC on 01785 847519 to discuss electrical support. A network outage must be reported to the network operator.
See NESO’s power-cut guidance and the UK government’s preparation advice.