Power cut checklist: what to do in a UK power cut
Most power cuts in the UK are short, but a winter cut after a storm can last a day or more. This is the checklist from the book's power cut quick card, in the order you'll need it.
The short answer
Check whether it's just your home, then report it by calling 105 (free, England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland 03457 643 643). Keep fridge and freezer doors shut: a closed fridge stays cold for up to 4 hours, a full freezer up to 48 hours. Use torches, not candles, and never use a barbecue, camping stove or generator indoors.
First, in the first ten minutes
- Check whether it is just you: are the streetlights on, are the neighbours' windows lit?
- If only your home is dark, open the fuse box (consumer unit) with a torch and see whether a switch has tripped.
- If the whole street is dark, report it: 105 in England, Scotland and Wales, 03457 643 643 in Northern Ireland.
- Switch off irons, ovens, electric fires and fryers that were on, and unplug the television and computer.
- Leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back.
Then
- Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut. A closed fridge stays cold for up to 4 hours, a full freezer up to 48 hours, a half-full one up to 24 hours.
- Food can stay in the fridge while it is below 8°C. Once it reaches 8°C or above, eat chilled food within 4 hours; after more than 4 hours at 8°C or above, throw it away.
- Eat in this order: food that needs refrigerating, defrosted frozen food that needs no cooking, perishable food kept at room temperature, then tins and dried food.
- Keep warm: layers, everyone in one room, doors closed to rooms you are not using, curtains drawn at dusk.
- Check first on older people, babies, young children and anyone with a long-term health condition.
- Save your phone's battery: turn the brightness down, close apps and send texts rather than making long calls.
- Use torches and LED lanterns rather than candles.
- Carbon monoxide signs: headache, dizziness, sickness, tiredness, confusion, breathlessness. Stop using the appliance, get outside and get advice from NHS 111.
Never
- Never use a barbecue, camping stove, patio heater or generator indoors, in a garage, in a porch or in a tent. Opening windows and running fans will not make a generator safe indoors.
- Stay well away from damaged power lines and substations: electricity at high voltage can jump gaps without warning.
- Never connect a portable generator to your home's wiring.
- Never leave candles unattended, and blow them out before you sleep.
Who to call
- 105 Power cut (England, Scotland, Wales)
- 03457 643 643 Power cut (Northern Ireland, NIE Networks)
- 0800 111 999 Gas leak or carbon monoxide from a gas appliance (National Gas Helpline)
- 111 NHS 111 (medical advice)
- 999 Danger to life, breathing difficulty, chest pain or loss of consciousness
If anyone at home relies on electricity for medical equipment, or is older or disabled, sign up to the free Priority Services Register with your energy and water companies.
Questions people ask
Who do I call in a power cut in the UK?
Call 105, free from most phones in England, Scotland and Wales, to report a power cut or damaged power lines. In Northern Ireland call NIE Networks on 03457 643 643. If there is danger to life, call 999.
How long does food last in the fridge in a power cut?
A closed fridge stays cold for up to 4 hours. Food can stay in the fridge while it is below 8°C; once it reaches 8°C or above, eat chilled food within 4 hours, and throw it away after more than 4 hours at that temperature.
How long will my freezer stay frozen without power?
Keep the door shut: a full freezer stays frozen for up to 48 hours, a half-full one for up to 24 hours.
Is it safe to use a camping stove or generator indoors?
No. Never use a barbecue, camping stove, patio heater or generator indoors, in a garage, porch or tent. Opening windows and running fans will not make it safe: carbon monoxide can kill.
How do I know if the power cut is just my house?
Look at the streetlights and the neighbours' windows. If only your home is dark, check the fuse box (consumer unit) with a torch to see whether a switch has tripped.
Official sources
Checked against these official pages in October 2026. Advice and phone numbers can change, so the official page always has the final word.