Immediate danger to life: call 999 or 112.

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The first hours of a power cut

Sources checked 24 October 2026

Action summary

1. Use a torch and check for immediate hazards. If there is fire, smoke, a smell of burning or a serious electrical danger, call 999 as appropriate.
2. Check urgent care needs and electrically powered medical equipment.
3. Report the outage or check the network operator's official updates.
4. Turn off equipment which could become dangerous if power returns unexpectedly, such as ovens, irons and electric heaters.
5. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. Record the time the power failed.

First actions

1. Use a torch and check for immediate hazards. If there is fire, smoke, a smell of burning or a serious electrical danger, call 999 as appropriate.
2. Check urgent care needs and electrically powered medical equipment. Follow its outage plan immediately; do not wait for a restoration estimate if someone's safety depends on power.
3. Report the outage or check the network operator's official updates. Call 105 in England, Scotland or Wales, or NIE Networks on 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland.
4. Turn off equipment which could become dangerous if power returns unexpectedly, such as ovens, irons and electric heaters.
5. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. Record the time the power failed.

If it is safe and dry, you can check whether neighbours are also affected and whether a household circuit has tripped. Do not remove covers, repeatedly reset a circuit that trips, or handle damaged electrical equipment. Use a qualified electrician for faults in the home. Stay well away from fallen wires; do not touch a vehicle or fence in contact with them.

Preserve phone charge and use a radio if internet service fails. Many landlines, broadband routers, personal alarms and connected health devices depend on electricity. A handset having a cord does not guarantee it will work during a modern digital-network outage.

Keep warm with layers, blankets and a suitable room. Check children and anyone who may not recognise that they are becoming cold. Never use a barbecue, outdoor stove or generator indoors to restore heat or cook. Battery lighting is generally safer than candles.

If you have solar panels: Ordinary grid-connected panels may stop supplying your house during an outage. Only rely on backup capability which your installer has confirmed for your actual system, including safe operation and the circuits it supplies.

When power returns: Check food and essential equipment before resuming normal use. Follow any staged restoration advice. Restoration times are estimates and can change; the site must not guarantee a time from an old outage message.

Update 24 October 2026: food, medical needs and registers

Keep three days of food that needs no cooking and 3 litres of drinking water per person per day — see food and water for three days.

If anyone relies on powered medical equipment, agree a power-loss plan with the clinician, care provider and equipment supplier. Don't assume an ordinary phone power bank will run medical equipment.

Check eligibility for the Priority Services Register in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland uses Customer Care Registers. Registration supports planning but doesn't replace your own backup plan. Report a power cut on 105, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland.

Sources

• UK Government Be Ready: Power cuts
• Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland: Safety Tips Using a portable generator in an emergency
• Food Standards Agency: Food safety in a power cut advice for consumers
• Food Standards Scotland: Food safety during a power cut
• UK Government Be Ready: Advice for disabled persons and carers
• UK Government Be Ready: Phone and broadband outages
• NI Direct: Energy power supply and utilities
• Energy Saving Trust: Solar inverters technical note

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