Power Cut Checklist (UK)

Power cuts happen. Usually at the worst possible time.

This checklist helps you prepare before one happens — and know what to do when the lights go out.

Before a power cut (prep checklist)

Lighting

• [ ] LED torch (with spare batteries)
• [ ] Battery or USB lantern for room lighting
• [ ] Candles + matches (use carefully, keep away from kids/pets)

Communication

• [ ] Fully charged phone
• [ ] Portable power bank (charged)
• [ ] Battery or crank radio (for long outages / emergencies)

Power backup (optional but useful)

• [ ] Portable power station (for router, phones, lights)
• [ ] Know where your fuse box is

Warmth (winter)

• [ ] Extra blankets
• [ ] Hot water bottles
• [ ] Warm layers you can grab quickly

Food and water

• [ ] Bottled water (if you have an electric pump)
• [ ] Non-perishable snacks
• [ ] Cool bag + ice packs (to save fridge contents if needed)

Important info

• [ ] Torch near the fuse box
• [ ] Your electricity supplier's number saved in your phone
• [ ] Know your MPAN (meter point number) — on your bill

First 10 minutes of a power cut

1. Check if it is just you
2. Are neighbours' lights on?

3. Check your fuse box — has a trip switch flipped?

4. If it is just your house

5. Reset the trip switch
6. If it trips again, unplug appliances and try one by one

7. Call an electrician if you cannot find the cause

8. If the whole area is out

9. It is a grid outage — nothing to fix on your end
10. Report it: call 105 (free, 24/7, all UK networks)

11. Or check your network operator's website for updates

12. Preserve your phone battery

13. Lower screen brightness
14. Turn off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth if not needed

15. Avoid doom-scrolling (hard, but wise)

16. Protect food

17. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
18. A full freezer stays frozen ~24–48 hours unopened
19. A fridge stays cool ~4 hours

If the outage lasts longer

Communication

• Use your power bank or power station to keep your phone alive
• If you have a portable power station, you can keep your router running too (see: Keep Wi-Fi running in a power cut)

Warmth

• Layer up — multiple thin layers beat one thick one
• Stay in one room with the door closed
• Use hot water bottles if you have gas or a camping stove to boil water (safely!)

Cooking

• If you have a gas hob, you can still cook (light it manually if electric ignition fails)
• Do NOT use outdoor BBQs or generators indoors — carbon monoxide risk

Vulnerable people

• Check on elderly or unwell neighbours
• If someone depends on electric medical equipment, call 105 and your energy supplier — they may have priority support

After power returns

1. Check appliances
2. Reset clocks, timers, alarms

3. Check fridge/freezer temps — discard food if in doubt

4. Recharge everything

5. Phone, power banks, torches

6. Top up the power station if you have one

7. Restock

8. Replace any batteries or supplies you used

9. Note what you wished you had

10. Update your kit for next time

Printable summary

Download the printable PDF

Before: - Torch + batteries - Power bank (charged) - Bottled water + snacks - Blankets / warm layers - Know your fuse box location - Save 105 in your phone

During: - Check fuse box vs area outage - Call 105 to report / get updates - Keep fridge/freezer closed - Conserve phone battery - Stay warm, stay in one room

After: - Check food safety - Recharge everything - Restock supplies

Related guides

• Keep Wi-Fi running in a power cut
• Can a power station run a fridge?
• Power station sizing: Wh vs watts explained