Power cuts
Most are short, but a wider outage can affect heating, phones, card payments and water.
How it can spread
- No lighting, heating, cooking or charging
- Mobile signal and broadband may drop as masts run out of backup power
- Card machines, cash machines and some water pumping can stop
Before
- Keep torches, spare batteries and a charged power bank where everyone can find them.
- Write down your power cut number: 105 in England, Scotland and Wales, or 03457 643 643 for NIE Networks in Northern Ireland.
- If anyone relies on powered medical equipment, agree a plan with the equipment provider and join the Priority Services Register.
During
- Check whether neighbours are affected, then report it.
- Keep fridge and freezer doors shut. A full freezer stays frozen for around a day if left closed.
- Switch off appliances that could be dangerous if the power comes back suddenly. Leave one light on so you know when it returns.
- Use torches, not candles. Never use a barbecue, camping stove or generator indoors: carbon monoxide can kill.
- Save phone battery for essential calls and messages. Only charge from a car outdoors, never in a garage.
- Stay well away from fallen power lines and report them on 105.
After
- Check appliances before switching them back on.
- If you are unsure whether chilled or frozen food stayed cold enough, throw it out.
Official information
Checked against official guidance on 28 Oct 2026. In immediate danger, call 999.
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