Articles · Power cuts
Power Cut Compensation UK: What You’re Owed + Free Claim Letter Templates
The quick answer
If your power is off for more than 12 hours you’re usually owed £100, plus £45 for each extra 12 hours, and Ofgem says it’s generally paid automatically. You only need to write if the money hasn’t arrived, or to claim the little-known extra £100 for repeated power cuts. Free letter templates for both are below.
How much are you owed?
These are Ofgem’s current figures for homes. They rise with inflation each year, so check Ofgem’s page for the latest.
| Situation | You get | Then | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal conditions, fewer than 5,000 homes affected, off 12+ hours | £100 | +£45 per extra 12h | – |
| Normal conditions, 5,000+ homes affected, off 24+ hours | £100 | +£45 per extra 12h | £400 |
| Storm category 1 (8–13× normal faults) | £90 after 24h | +£45 per extra 6h | £2,235 |
| Storm category 2 (13×+ normal faults) | £90 after 48h | +£45 per extra 6h | £2,235 |
| Repeated cuts: more than 4 cuts of 3+ hours each, 1 April to 31 March | +£100 | Must claim | – |
| Payment missed by the network | +£40 | Chase it | – |
Do you need to claim?
- Standard and storm payments: usually no. Ofgem says they’re generally paid automatically, by bank transfer if your network has your details, otherwise by cheque or as a credit via your supplier.
- Repeated power cuts (+£100): yes, you must claim. Use Letter 2 below.
- Payment not arrived after a few months? Chase it with Letter 1. If it was missed, you may be owed an extra £40.
Write to your local electricity network operator, not your energy supplier. Call 105 if you’re not sure who that is.
Before you write: keep a power cut log
Networks pay faster when you can give exact details. Jot these down during every cut (a note on your phone is fine):
| Date | Power went off | Power came back | Hours | Reference number (from 105 / website) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Letter 1: chasing a payment that hasn’t arrived
Dear Sir or Madam, Guaranteed Standards of Performance payment: power cut at [YOUR ADDRESS, POSTCODE] My electricity supply was interrupted from [TIME] on [DATE] until [TIME] on [DATE], a total of [NUMBER] hours. Your reference for this fault was [REFERENCE NUMBER, IF YOU HAVE ONE]. Under the Electricity (Standards of Performance) Regulations, I understand I am entitled to a payment of £[AMOUNT] for this interruption. I have not yet received it. Please arrange payment to me. If the payment was not made within the required time, I understand an additional payment is also due. My details: Name: [YOUR NAME] Address: [YOUR ADDRESS] Phone / email: [CONTACT DETAILS] MPAN (on your electricity bill, optional): [MPAN] I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
Letter 2: claiming the repeated power cuts payment
Dear Sir or Madam, Claim for multiple interruptions payment: [YOUR ADDRESS, POSTCODE] Between 1 April [YEAR] and 31 March [YEAR], my electricity supply was interrupted more than four times, with each interruption lasting at least three hours: 1. [DATE]: from [TIME] to [TIME] ([HOURS] hours). Ref: [REF] 2. [DATE]: from [TIME] to [TIME] ([HOURS] hours). Ref: [REF] 3. [DATE]: from [TIME] to [TIME] ([HOURS] hours). Ref: [REF] 4. [DATE]: from [TIME] to [TIME] ([HOURS] hours). Ref: [REF] 5. [DATE]: from [TIME] to [TIME] ([HOURS] hours). Ref: [REF] Under the Electricity (Standards of Performance) Regulations, I would like to claim the payment due for multiple interruptions. My details: Name: [YOUR NAME] Address: [YOUR ADDRESS] Phone / email: [CONTACT DETAILS] MPAN (on your electricity bill, optional): [MPAN] Please confirm receipt of this claim and let me know when payment will be made. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
Send it by email or post to your network operator’s customer service team, and keep a copy. If they refuse or don’t reply, complain to the company first, then you can contact Ofgem or the Energy Ombudsman.
Make the next power cut easier
- Power cut checklist UK: what to do before, during and after.
- How to keep warm in a power cut, when your boiler stops.
- The Government’s 72-hour plan, with a free tickable kit checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation do you get for a power cut in the UK?
Under Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards, homes get £100 if the power is off for more than 12 hours (when fewer than 5,000 properties are affected) or more than 24 hours (when 5,000 or more are affected), plus £45 for every extra 12 hours, up to £400 in large outages. Storm rules are different: £90 for the first 24 or 48 hours, then £45 for every extra 6 hours, up to £2,235.
Do I need to claim power cut compensation?
Usually not. Ofgem says standard power cut payments are generally made automatically by your network operator. But you do need to claim the extra £100 for repeated power cuts, and you should chase if a payment hasn’t arrived after a few months. A missed payment may earn you an extra £40.
What is the repeated power cuts payment?
If your power goes off more than 4 times between 1 April and 31 March, with each cut lasting at least 3 hours, you can claim an extra £100. You have to claim this one from your local network operator. It isn’t automatic.
Who do I claim from: my energy supplier or the network?
Your local electricity network operator, the company that runs the cables in your area, not the company you pay your bills to. Call 105 to find out who your network operator is.
Can I claim for food I lost or appliances that broke?
Not under the Guaranteed Standards. They don’t cover damaged appliances or spoiled food. Check your home insurance, which sometimes covers freezer contents.