Preparing for a power cut

If your electricity goes off, first check whether it is only your property and make the immediate area safe. Use the free national Power Cut 105 service to report or check an electricity network problem. Keep a torch, phone, warm layer and written contact details accessible, and follow advice from your network operator and emergency services.

What to do first when the power goes off

When the lights go out, pause and check the immediate surroundings. If you smell burning, see sparks, hear an alarm or someone is in danger, move away and call the appropriate emergency service. Do not touch damaged electrical equipment, fallen wires or anything in contact with them. If there is no immediate danger, use a torch and check whether neighbouring homes or shared areas have also lost power. This helps distinguish a wider outage from a problem inside the property.

For a network outage in Great Britain, Power Cut 105 connects callers with their local electricity network operator. The operator is responsible for the wires and equipment that bring electricity to homes, while a supplier handles billing and the tariff. The Power Cut 105 service can also direct people to local outage information. If the issue appears limited to your home, check the consumer unit only if it is safe and familiar to do so. Do not open electrical equipment or attempt repairs.

Keep a phone available for calls and essential updates. Reduce non-essential use if battery life is a concern, and write down important numbers so you are not relying on a charged device. If you have a landline handset that needs mains electricity or a broadband-based phone, it may not work during an outage. Ask your provider what service applies to your connection, especially if a phone is important for health or accessibility.

Unplug sensitive devices if there is a local instruction to do so or if you are concerned about a power return. Leave one light switched on so you can notice when electricity comes back. Follow the appliance instructions for anything that was running when power failed. Avoid opening the fridge or freezer unnecessarily while you wait for current food-safety advice from official sources.

Look after anyone who needs powered medical equipment, refrigerated medicine or powered mobility aids. Use the plan agreed with the equipment supplier or clinician. If the equipment stops, a person becomes unwell or there is an immediate medical risk, seek urgent help. Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. For urgent medical advice that is not an emergency, NHS 111 can advise on the next step.

Do not use a barbecue, camping stove, fuel-burning heater or generator inside a home, conservatory, garage or other enclosed space. These appliances can produce carbon monoxide, which has no smell and can be fatal. Keep generators outside and well away from doors, windows and vents, following the manufacturer's safety instructions. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get outside and call for help.

Make a household plan before an outage

Start with the parts of daily life that need electricity. List essential devices, who uses them, their normal power source and what the supplier recommends if electricity is interrupted. Include communication and mobility equipment as well as medical devices. Do not assume that a portable battery or car socket is approved for a particular device. Ask the manufacturer, clinician or equipment supplier which backup options are suitable and how long they can support the need.

Find the network operator and record 105. Add your electricity supplier, water company, landlord or building manager, GP, pharmacy and an out-of-area contact to a paper list. Tell household members where it is stored. If a person may need help during an outage, agree who will check in and how they will make contact if mobile service is also disrupted.

Check whether anyone in the household can join the Priority Services Register. The register is managed by energy suppliers and network operators, and support may include accessible information or other help tailored to a person's circumstances. Ask the supplier directly about eligibility and what support is available. Water companies also have support registers for some customers, so contact the local water provider to ask about its arrangements. Registration is useful planning information, not a promise that electricity will remain available.

Keep lamps and torches where people can reach them without crossing a dark room. Choose a safe, stable light for each area where someone may need to move. A head torch can leave both hands free for tasks; a lantern can light a larger area; a handheld torch is easy to direct. Keep each device's charging lead or correct battery type with it. Store candles only if you understand the fire risk and can supervise them continuously. A battery light avoids an open flame.

Plan for warmth with ordinary clothing, blankets and a room that can be kept comfortable without unsafe appliances. Close doors to unused rooms if that suits the home, while keeping ventilation and fire exits clear. Do not use an oven or hob as a room heater. Do not burn fuel indoors unless the appliance is designed and installed for that use and the instructions permit it. Carbon monoxide alarms should be fitted and maintained as directed.

Check whether lifts, powered gates, shared access doors or building alarms depend on mains electricity. Residents in flats can ask the building manager how an outage is communicated and what to do if a lift stops. Keep stair routes clear and do not use a lift if there is a warning or the building operator says it is unavailable. If someone cannot use stairs, arrange a personal plan with the people responsible for the building and the person's support network.

Compare common lights and radios

A device's label and instructions matter more than broad claims about battery life. Compare the energy source, controls, weight, charging method and how the light or radio will be used. Keep spare batteries that match the exact model. For radio reception, check the broadcaster's own local finder and save the information with the household plan. Do not rely on a frequency copied from a different town or an old list.

A radio can provide updates without relying on a home internet connection, though reception and the broadcaster's service vary by area. A wind-up model avoids disposable batteries but still needs winding and may have other power needs. A battery radio can be simple to store with spare cells. A DAB set may offer stations available in an area but depends on reception and its own battery supply. Check the intended station locally and use official broadcaster information for the current listening method.

Choose backup power by the job it must do

A power bank is a small battery intended mainly for portable electronics. A portable power station is a larger battery system that may have different output sockets and limits. Neither is a substitute for mains electricity across a home. Before choosing, list the exact devices and how long each needs power. Check each device's input requirements and each battery's manufacturer instructions, including output limits and compatible cables.

Battery capacity is only one part of the decision. A station must also support the device's power draw and start-up load, and its ports must match the equipment. A runtime estimate depends on the load, conversion losses and how the device operates. A fridge, for example, does not necessarily draw the same amount continuously. Use a calculator as a planning aid with verified device and product information, not as a guarantee of runtime.

A power bank can be easier to carry for a phone, while a station may support more kinds of equipment. Size and product claims alone do not prove suitability. Match the exact device to the maker's limits, include charging arrangements in the plan and keep medical equipment decisions with the supplier or clinician.

Think about charging the backup source and keeping it ready. Follow the maker's instructions for storage, recharge intervals, temperature and ventilation. A battery may lose charge while stored, and solar panels depend on location and conditions. Do not connect a power station to household wiring or a wall socket as a way to energise the home. Ask a qualified electrician about any fixed installation or transfer arrangement.

Keep high-draw appliances out of a small-backup plan unless the equipment is specifically rated for them. Kettles, heaters and cooking appliances can demand much more power than phones or lights. If you are unsure whether a device is suitable, compare its label and manual with the battery manufacturer's continuous and surge ratings or ask the maker. Avoid improvised adapters and extension arrangements that the instructions do not allow.

Food and medical equipment need separate plans

During an outage, keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Do not use smell or appearance alone to decide whether food is safe. Food handling advice can depend on how long the appliance was without power, the food and its temperature. Check current Food Standards Agency or local authority guidance when available. If you are uncertain about a specific item, use official food-safety advice rather than an assumed time limit.

For medicines that need refrigeration, ask the pharmacist or prescribing clinician what to do if the fridge loses power. Keep the medicine in its packaging and follow its storage instructions. Do not discard or use it based on a guess. Ask in advance whether a replacement or an alternative storage arrangement is appropriate, and save the supplier's contact details on paper.

Powered medical devices need an individual continuity plan. Ask the supplier or clinician about an approved backup battery, alarms, charging, consumables and what to do if the device fails. Write down emergency contacts and ensure everyone who may help knows the plan. Contact your electricity supplier and network operator about the Priority Services Register. If a device alarm indicates an urgent problem, follow the clinical plan or seek urgent care.

Check services for your part of the UK

Electricity network arrangements differ across the UK, and your operator depends on where you live. Use the official 105 service or your supplier's bill to identify the correct contact. Follow local operator updates about repairs, vulnerable customer support and safety. In Northern Ireland, electricity network and supplier arrangements differ from Great Britain, so use the relevant Northern Ireland service rather than assuming a GB process applies.

Emergency support, local authority services and health arrangements are devolved. In England, check GOV.UK and your council. In Scotland, use Scottish Government and local council information. In Wales, check Welsh Government and your council. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect and the relevant local service. If a national alert or emergency services issue a specific instruction, follow the instruction for your location.

Guides and tools for power cuts

The detailed UK power cut guide explains how to report an outage and organise the first hours. For food kept cold, read the fridge and freezer guide, which focuses on safe handling and where to find current advice. Households that rely on devices can use the medical equipment guide to prepare questions for suppliers and clinicians.

If a household member may qualify for extra support, the Priority Services Register guide explains how to ask an energy supplier or water company about its register. For battery choices, the power bank versus power station guide describes the different roles, while the power bank selection guide gives a structured set of checks before choosing a model.

Use the power cut quiz to identify household planning gaps, or try the runtime calculator with confirmed figures from device labels and manufacturer pages. Neither tool knows the condition of your local network or confirms the suitability of medical equipment. Keep official contacts and professional advice central to the plan.

Common questions

Sources

• Power Cut 105
• Ofgem guidance on the Priority Services Register
• Energy Networks Association information on extra help
• NHS information on carbon monoxide poisoning
• NHS guidance on when to use 111

Sources checked 30 October 2026.

Reviewed by the PrepperReady team, 30 October 2026.