FIELD & RESERVE / PREPAREDNESS GUIDES
How to prepare for a power cut
A few straightforward preparations can make a dark evening easier to manage.
Before an outage
Keep a torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank and a battery or wind-up radio together. Write useful numbers on paper. Check whether your landline or telecare equipment will work without mains power. If you rely on powered medical equipment, agree an outage plan with your care team and equipment provider.
When the lights go out
Report the outage to your network operator: 105 in England, Scotland and Wales; 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. Use a torch rather than candles. Switch off heat-producing appliances such as ovens and irons. Keep fridge and freezer doors shut, use warm layers and check on neighbours when it is safe.
Extra support
Check eligibility for the Priority Services Register in Great Britain, or Customer Care Registers in Northern Ireland. This support does not guarantee an uninterrupted supply. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.
Based on the UK Government’s Be Ready power-cut guidance. Checked 9 November 2026.