Most power cuts are short-lived and local, but longer ones can happen (Be Ready). A little preparation turns a few miserable hours into a minor inconvenience.
When the power goes
- Call 105 (free) or report it online to your local network operator, in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland call 03457 643643 (Power Cut 105).
- Without power, gas boilers and hobs, heat pumps, internet and many phones may not work (Power Cut 105). Keep a charged mobile and a power bank.
- Check on neighbours who might need help. People with extra needs can join the free Priority Services Register through their network operator or energy supplier.
Fridge and freezer
- Keep the doors closed. A fridge should stay cold for up to 4 hours. A full freezer stays frozen for up to 48 hours, or about 24 hours if half full. These are estimates.
- A cut of less than 4 hours is unlikely to affect the safety of chilled or frozen food.
- A fridge thermometer tells you if it has got too warm. If the fridge reaches 8°C or above, eat chilled food within 4 hours or throw it away.
- If it is cold outside (below 8°C), you can keep food outside in a sealed box, out of the sun and away from animals.
- Eat food from the fridge first, and save tins and dried food for later.
Light
Be Ready says torches are safer than candles. A torch for each adult, a head torch for cooking and a lantern for the room cover most needs. Keep spare batteries, or choose rechargeable ones and keep them charged.
- Torch
One per adult. Safer than candles- Budget ASDA 9 LED Aluminium Torch (3 x AAA) · Asda page
- Moderate Rechargeable LED torch (USB) · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate High-output rechargeable torch, waterproof · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Head torch
Keeps both hands free- Budget Basic LED head torch (AAA batteries) · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Moderate Rechargeable head torch (USB) · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Premium rechargeable head torch, red light mode, waterproof · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Lantern
Lights a room. Safer than candles; if you use candles, never leave them alone- Budget Battery LED camping lantern · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Moderate Rechargeable LED lantern · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Solar and USB rechargeable lantern with power bank · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Spare batteries
Match your torches and radio; check them monthly- Budget Asda Super Alkaline AAA 8 pack · Search Asda
- Moderate Branded alkaline AA and AAA multi-pack · Search Asda
- Ultimate Rechargeable AA/AAA batteries with USB charger · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Power and news
Thinking about a portable power station? The power station calculator works out the watts and watt-hours your fridge, lights, phones and other essentials need, and which models can run them.
- Power bank
Charge it when the clocks change- Budget Groov-e 10,000mAh Powerbank · Asda page
- Moderate 20,000mAh power bank, two USB ports · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Portable power station, about 250 Wh with mains socket · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Radio (wind-up or battery)
Note your local BBC and commercial station frequencies- Budget ASDA Tech Portable AM/FM Radio (batteries) · Asda page
- Moderate Wind-up and solar FM radio with USB charging · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Wind-up, solar and battery DAB/FM radio with torch and power bank · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Solar charger
Recharges phones and power banks in a long power cut- Ultimate Folding solar panel charger, 20-30 W USB · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Warmth
Homes get cold quickly. Be Ready suggests blankets and layered clothing, and keeping doors of unused rooms closed. Layer up, keep everyone in one room, and get sleeping bags and blankets ready before night.
- Emergency blankets
One per person- Budget Foil emergency blanket · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Moderate Emergency bivvy bag · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Reusable heavy-duty emergency blanket or bivvy · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Sleeping bags
One per person for a cold house in a power cut- Moderate 3-season sleeping bag · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Premium 4-season sleeping bag · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Carbon monoxide
Power cuts are when people reach for camping stoves, heaters and generators, and that brings a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The NHS advises:
- never use a barbecue or camping stove indoors or in a tent;
- never run engines (generators, cars) in an enclosed space such as a garage;
- fit a carbon monoxide alarm in each room with a gas, oil, coal or wood appliance.
Symptoms include headache, dizziness, feeling sick, tiredness and confusion. If you suspect carbon monoxide, get outside and call NHS 111. Call 999 if someone is struggling to breathe or has collapsed. If you think a gas appliance is leaking carbon monoxide, the NHS says to call the free National Gas Helpline on 0800 111 999.
- Carbon monoxide alarm
Battery type, so it works in a power cut- Moderate Battery carbon monoxide alarm · Search Amazon UK (Ad)
- Ultimate Carbon monoxide alarm with 10-year sealed battery · Search Amazon UK (Ad)