Articles · Power cuts
Power Cut Checklist UK: What to Do Before, During and After
The quick answer
Before: keep torches, a charged power bank, a radio, flasks and long-life food ready. When it happens: check if it’s just you, call 105, switch off appliances, keep the fridge and freezer shut. Afterwards: switch things on one at a time, check your food, and check you get your compensation if it lasted more than 12 hours.
Power cuts happen across the UK every winter, usually from storms bringing down lines, and most are fixed within a few hours. A little preparation turns a stressful evening into a mildly inconvenient one. Here’s the whole thing on one page.
Before a power cut: 10-minute prep
Most of this you’ll already have. Our 72-hour kit checklist lets you tick it off and saves your progress.
- Torches by the bed and in the kitchen, with spare batteries. Head torches leave your hands free.
- A charged power bank for each adult. See our ranked power banks.
- A battery or wind-up radio for local news.
- Save 105 in your phone as “Power cut”.
- Know where your fuse box is, and how to reset a tripped switch.
- Flasks and hot water bottles, so you can fill them if a storm is forecast.
- Food that needs no cooking, and a manual tin opener.
- A landline phone that doesn’t need power, if you still have a landline. Most modern cordless phones and digital landlines stop working in a power cut, so a charged mobile matters.
- Sign up for the Priority Services Register if anyone in your home is over 60, has a medical condition, uses powered medical equipment or is under five. It’s free and gets you extra help.
If a storm is forecast: charge every phone and power bank, fill flasks, run the dishwasher and washing machine early, turn the freezer to its coldest setting a few hours ahead, and bring the torches out where you can find them in the dark.
The moment the lights go out
- Stay put for a second. Let your eyes adjust and grab the nearest torch. Avoid candles where you can, because LED lights are safer.
- Check if it’s just you. Look out the window: are neighbours’ lights and street lights off too?
- Just your home? Check your fuse box. If a switch has tripped, unplug appliances, reset it, then plug things back in one at a time to find the culprit.
- Whole street? It’s a network fault. Move to step 3.
- Call 105 (free) or check your network’s online power cut map to report it and get an estimated fix time.
- Switch off appliances that could be a hazard when power returns: hair straighteners, irons, heaters, the cooker. Unplug TVs and computers.
- Leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back.
- Keep the fridge and freezer shut.
- Check on vulnerable neighbours or relatives, especially if they’re older or rely on medical equipment.
Stay safe: if you see a fallen power line, keep well away (at least 10 metres), call 105, and call 999 if anyone is in danger. Never use a camping stove, BBQ or generator indoors because of the carbon monoxide risk.
During a longer power cut
Keeping warm
Most gas boilers stop without electricity. Gather everyone in one room, close the curtains, layer up and use blankets or sleeping bags. Our full guide: how to keep warm in a power cut.
Keeping food safe
Food Standards Agency guidance:
| Appliance | Stays cold for about |
|---|---|
| Fridge (door shut) | 4 hours |
| Freezer, full | 48 hours |
| Freezer, half full | 24 hours |
If the fridge gets to 8°C or above, eat chilled food within 4 hours or throw it away. A cheap fridge thermometer takes out the guesswork. In cold weather (below 8°C outside), you can store food outside in a cool box.
Staying connected
- Phones: lower the screen brightness, close apps, and switch on low power mode. Use your power bank to top up, not to keep phones at 100%.
- Wi-Fi goes down with the power. Use mobile data, but be aware mobile masts can fail in long outages.
- The radio is the most reliable source of local updates.
Keeping everyone calm
- Kids: make it an adventure. Board games by torchlight, stories, a “camp” in the warm room.
- Medication: keep insulin and other fridge medicines cool. Ask your pharmacist what to do in a longer cut.
- Medical equipment: if someone relies on powered equipment, make sure you’re on the Priority Services Register and have a backup plan, such as a portable power station or somewhere to go.
When the power comes back
- Switch appliances back on one at a time to avoid overloading the circuit.
- Check the fridge and freezer. Use the table above, and if in doubt, throw it out.
- Reset clocks, timers and the boiler if it needs it.
- Recharge power banks, refill flasks and replace used batteries, ready for next time.
Compensation you may be owed
Under Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards, your network operator may owe you money, and it’s generally paid automatically:
| Situation | Payment (homes) |
|---|---|
| Power off for more than 12 hours (normal conditions) | £100 |
| Each extra 12 hours | +£45 |
| 5,000+ properties affected | £100 after 24 hours instead of 12 |
| Storms (network-declared categories) | £90 after 24 or 48 hours, then +£45 per extra 6 hours |
| More than 4 cuts of 3+ hours in a year | +£100, but you must claim it |
Payment not arrived after a few months? Chase it, because a missed payment may earn you an extra £40. Our power cut compensation guide has free letter templates for both. Figures rise with inflation each year, so see Ofgem for the latest.
Sources: Ofgem: power cut payments, Food Standards Agency: food safety in a power cut, Citizens Advice: prepare for a power cut, NIE Networks, gov.uk/prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call in a power cut in the UK?
Call 105. It's free from mobiles and landlines and puts you through to your local electricity network, the company that runs the cables, not your energy supplier. In Northern Ireland you can also call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643. In an emergency, such as fallen power lines, call 105 and keep well away. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
How long will food last in the fridge and freezer during a power cut?
According to the Food Standards Agency, a fridge kept closed stays cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours, and a half-full freezer for about 24 hours. Keep the doors shut as much as possible.
Can I get compensation for a power cut?
Usually, yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards, homes get £100 if the power is off for more than 12 hours (or 24 hours when 5,000+ properties are affected), plus £45 for each extra 12 hours. Ofgem says these payments are generally automatic. You do need to claim the extra £100 if you've had more than 4 cuts of 3+ hours in a year. See our compensation guide for free letter templates.
How do I know if it's just my house?
Check if neighbours or street lights are off too. If it's just you, look at your fuse box (consumer unit): if a switch has tripped, unplug appliances, reset the switch, then plug things back one at a time. If the whole street is off, call 105 or check your network's online power cut map.
Should I unplug things during a power cut?
Switch off or unplug sensitive electronics like TVs and computers, and anything that could be a hazard when power returns, such as hair straighteners, irons and heaters. Leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back.