Prepare for Power Cuts: A Practical UK Household Guide

To prepare for power cuts, save your Distribution Network Operator’s number, memorise the free 105 line, keep a battery torch and power bank charged, and check whether your gas boiler needs mains electricity to run your heating. Most UK power cuts are short and local, but a little preparation removes the guesswork when the lights go out at 7pm on a January evening.

Reporting an outage is free and goes to your network operator, not your energy supplier. Your supplier only handles faults with the meter itself. Knowing that difference saves time when you need power back quickly.

Free Price Compare sources this guidance from Ofgem publications and the official Powercut 105 service, and we also compare household gas and electricity deals so you can keep running costs down between outages.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

How do I check if it’s a power cut or just my fuse box?

To tell a power cut from a fuse-box fault, check your own fuse box (consumer unit) first: if a trip switch has flipped to the off position, reset it and see if power returns. If your whole street is dark or your neighbours have also lost power, it is a genuine power cut on the network rather than a fault inside your home. A quick glance out of the window at streetlights and neighbouring houses is the fastest test at night.

If the fault is inside your home, resetting the tripped switch usually restores power. If it trips again immediately, unplug appliances one at a time to find the faulty item, and call a registered electrician if you cannot identify it. If the outage is on the network, you report it rather than fix it yourself.

According to Ofgem’s household power-cut advice, updated 17 August 2026, you should report a network power cut to your operator and only contact your energy supplier if the problem is with your meter. For a fuller walkthrough of fuse-box checks and safe resets, see our guide on how to prepare for and deal with power outages in the UK.

Should I contact my energy supplier or someone else?

Contact your Distribution Network Operator, not your energy supplier, for a network power cut. The quickest route is to call 105 free from any landline or mobile, which automatically connects you to the network operator for your area. Your energy supplier (the company that sends your bill) does not run the wires and cannot fix a network fault.

The 105 service covers England, Scotland and Wales, and you can also use the Powercut 105 website to find your operator by postcode. Contact your supplier only if the fault is with your meter, for example if your neighbours have power but you do not and your fuse box is fine. Reporting through the correct channel gets the right engineers dispatched faster.

Your Distribution Network Operator is the regional company that owns and maintains the power lines to your home, such as UK Power Networks, Northern Powergrid, SP Energy Networks, Electricity North West or National Grid Electricity Distribution. Save its number in your phone now so you are not searching for it in the dark.

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What to do in a power cut in the first 10 minutes

In the first 10 minutes of a power cut, switch off and unplug sensitive appliances such as computers, TVs and the boiler, then leave one light switched on so you know the moment supply returns. A power surge when electricity comes back can damage electronics, so unplugging protects them. Grab your torch rather than reaching for candles, and check on anyone in the household who relies on powered equipment.

Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut, put on warm layers rather than opening the fridge for a snack, and avoid opening exterior doors more than needed to hold in heat. Use your mobile sparingly to preserve battery for updates and emergency calls. If the cut looks widespread, call 105 or check your operator’s outage map for a restoration estimate.

• Unplug the TV, computer and other electronics to protect against surges.
• Leave one light on so you can see when power returns.
• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve the cold.
• Report the cut by calling 105 or using the Powercut 105 website.
• Check on elderly neighbours, young children and anyone using medical equipment.

Report power cuts by calling **105** for free in England, Scotland and Wales or by using **Powercut105.com**; the official guidance also says to check on elderly neighbours, young children and anyone using medical equipment during a power cut, from Powercut105/Prepare Campaign guidance dated 2026.[1][2][14]

What should be in an emergency power outage kit?

An emergency power outage kit should contain a battery or wind-up torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank, a battery radio, bottled water, ready-to-eat food, any essential medication and a paper list of key phone numbers. Keep it in one place everyone in the house knows, so you are not hunting through drawers by phone light. Torches are safer than candles because they carry no fire risk.

Add warm layers, a blanket and a vacuum flask you can fill before a planned outage, plus a small amount of cash in case card machines and ATMs are down. If anyone in the home uses medical equipment, keep spare or backup batteries checked and charged. Building the kit gradually keeps costs low, and much of it doubles as general home emergency supplies.

Figures are indicative and may change.

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Will my gas heating work during a power cut?

Most gas central heating stops working during a power cut because the boiler, pump and controls need mains electricity to run, even though the gas supply itself usually continues. The gas keeps flowing, but without power the boiler cannot ignite or circulate hot water to your radiators. This surprises many households who assume gas heating is independent of the electricity supply.

To stay warm, fill a vacuum flask with a hot drink before a planned cut, keep blankets and warm clothing to hand, and close curtains and internal doors to trap heat. A gas hob with a manual or lighter ignition can still be lit by hand for cooking, but never use a gas hob or oven to heat a room. Our guide on whether curtains and blinds reduce heat loss explains how to hold warmth in a home without power.

After power returns, your boiler and heating timer may need resetting, and the clock on the programmer often loses the correct time. Check the display and reset the schedule so heating comes on when you expect it. 

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How long will my freezer keep food safe?

A full freezer keeps food frozen for around 24 hours and a fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours during a power cut, provided you keep the doors shut. A full freezer holds temperature longer than a half-empty one because the frozen mass acts as a store of cold. Only open the doors when you need something, and get it out quickly.

Bulk out spare freezer space with sealed containers or bottles of water, which freeze into blocks that slow warming during an outage. If frozen food still contains ice crystals or feels fridge-cold when power returns, it is generally safe to refreeze or cook; discard anything that has clearly thawed and warmed. When in doubt with chilled food, throw it out rather than risk illness. The Food Standards Agency says defrost food safely in the fridge, use it within 24 hours once fully defrosted, and discard food that has warmed up rather than risk illness.[1][10][13]

Are candles safe during a power cut?

Candles are best avoided during a power cut because they are a fire and burn risk, especially in the dark and around children or pets. A battery or wind-up torch, or a phone torch, gives safer light with no open flame. If you do use candles, keep them well away from curtains and furnishings, stand them on a stable heatproof surface, and never leave them unattended or asleep.

Stocking a couple of torches and a supply of batteries costs little and removes the temptation to reach for matches. Head torches free up both hands, which helps if you need to find the fuse box, check a meter or move safely around the house. Keeping torches in more than one room means you are never left in a dark hallway searching for light. Ofgem reports that under RIIO-ED1 the average length of power-cut interruptions fell by around 12% and, per the ENA drawing on Ofgem data, sat at just over 30 minutes.

What is the Priority Services Register and who can join?

The Priority Services Register is a free support scheme run through energy suppliers and network operators for people who need extra help during a power cut or supply problem. You can join if you are over State Pension age, have a disability or long-term health condition, rely on medical equipment such as an oxygen machine or stairlift, have young children, or are in a vulnerable situation temporarily. Registration is free and you can sign up with both your supplier and your network operator.

Being on the register means your network operator knows to prioritise and contact you during outages, and can offer advance warning of planned interruptions and, in some cases, alternative support. Ofgem advises people who need extra help to tell their network operator and supplier, join the Priority Services Register, and check backup batteries on any medical equipment. If you or a family member depends on powered health equipment, register before winter and keep spare batteries charged.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice and National Energy Action also support vulnerable households, and the Energy Ombudsman can help if a complaint about a supply issue is not resolved. The Energy Ombudsman resolved 56,978 complaints in a year, of which

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How can I prepare for a power outage without spending a lot?

You can prepare for a power outage on a small budget by using what you already own: charge phones and any power banks when a storm is forecast, freeze bottles of water to keep the freezer cold, save key phone numbers in writing, and keep a torch with spare batteries where you can find it. Most useful preparation costs little or nothing and relies on planning rather than gadgets.

Fill a flask before a planned cut, keep blankets accessible, and put a small amount of cash aside in case card payments are down. Reducing your everyday running costs also frees up budget for essentials. With the Ofgem energy price cap at £1,862 a year for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household from 1 July to 30 September 2026, according to Ofgem’s price cap figures, many households on a standard variable tariff can save by comparing deals.

For lower everyday bills, read our tips on smart ways to cut energy costs in the UK and on the hidden cost of standby power. If you want backup power for outages, a home battery system is a bigger investment worth researching separately.

Do I get compensation for a long power cut?

You may be entitled to compensation from your network operator if a power cut lasts beyond set limits, with fixed payments and further amounts for extended outages. Ofgem sets these standards, and the exact thresholds depend on the cause, the weather conditions and how long supply is off. Compensation is usually paid automatically, but if it is not, you can claim from your operator.

Ofgem’s guidance on compensation for supply problems points consumers to the Powercut 105 service for what to do in a power cut, and to their network operator for payment rules. Keep a note of when your power went off and came back on, as this helps if you need to make a claim. If a claim is refused and you disagree, the Energy Ombudsman can review the dispute. Ofgem says to note the time your power went off and came back on because it can help support a compensation claim, and if a claim is refused and you disagree, the Energy Ombudsman can review the dispute.

• How to Prepare for & Deal with Power Outages in the UK
• Protect Your Business from Energy Supply Disruptions
• EDF Smart Home Solutions: Enhancing Energy Efficiency
• Do Curtains and Blinds Reduce Heat Loss & Cut Energy Costs?
• Severe Weather & Power Cuts: How to Prepare & Stay Safe

Information correct as of 18 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).