What To Do During A Power Cut

Power cuts are a real nuisance. They’re disruptive, unexpected and generally an unpleasant experience.

In most cases, power cuts are a short-term issue and normal service is resumed before you know it. However, in some scenarios, the power may be out for an extended period of time, which may require you to take emergency measures.

To help you remain calm during a blackout, we’ve put together this handy guide which features our top tips on what to do if you experience a loss of power.

Is It Me Or The Entire Area?

The first thing to establish is whether the power cut is a widespread problem or if it’s just impacting your home. Check the street lights and your neighbours’ houses – are they lit up? If so, it’s likely that the issue is due to a fault with your wiring or power supply.

If you’ve identified the issue is just within your home it’s time to check your fuse box. It’s worth remembering that something as simple as a blown light bulb could be causing the issue. Generally, these types of faults can be restored by resetting the switch within your fuse box.

Who Should I Call?

Now that you know whether or not the power cut is affecting you or the local area, the next step is knowing who can help restore the power.

The natural reaction is to contact your energy supplier. You may be surprised to learn that energy suppliers don’t control energy infrastructure – their role is to ensure there is enough energy in the grid to offset the amount of power used every year.

You need to contact your local electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Thankfully, this is relatively easy and can be done by dialling 105 from either a mobile or landline phone (corded phones will still work during a power outage). During the call, you’ll be connected to your local DNO which will allow you to report the outage and get an idea of when the issue will be resolved.

Staying Safe During A Power Outage

Whilst a short power outage is unlikely to cause too much agitation, here are some precautionary measures to help keep you safe during a power cut:

• Turn off or unplug electrical appliances to prevent your gadgets from overloading when the power is restored.
• Wrap up warm using blankets and extra clothing.
• Check to see if your neighbours are okay and well-equipped to handle the temporary power outage.
• If possible use your mobile phone data to keep track of updates from DNOs (click here for more information).

How To Prepare For A Power Cut

By their very nature power cuts are difficult to prepare for. They often seem to strike when we least expect it. With this in mind, the following measures are designed to ensure that you’re well-equipped to handle a power outage:

• Keep a source of light handy. We recommend using a torch as it’s much safer than using candles.
• Try to keep your mobile fully charged so that you can keep up-to-date with the latest local news.
• Stock your home with food and drinks that don’t need electricity for safe consumption.
• Ensure that you have blankets, warm clothing and hot water bottles.
• Take extra precautions if a storm is forecasted in your local area.

We hope that this blog post has provided you with the theoretical and practical knowledge that you may need in the event of a power cut.

If you’re experiencing an extended power outage, please remember you can always contact our emergency services team 24/7, 365 days a year on 0845 601 2187. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our power solutions click here to contact us.