PCR guide UK FREE download

Power Cut Checklist (UK)

A practical checklist to prepare before a power cut — and what to do in the first 10 minutes.

FREE Checklist Download (PDF) Jump to prep

Tip: save 105 in your phone (free UK power cut line).

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

Check if it is just you
Are neighbours' lights on?
Check your fuse box — has a trip switch flipped?
If it is just your house
Reset the trip switch
If it trips again, unplug appliances and try one by one
Call an electrician if you cannot find the cause
If the whole area is out
It is a grid outage — nothing to fix on your end
Report it: call 105 (free, 24/7, all UK networks)
Or check your network operator's website for updates
Preserve your phone battery
Lower screen brightness
Turn off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth if not needed
Avoid doom-scrolling (hard, but wise)
Protect food
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
A full freezer stays frozen ~24–48 hours unopened
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

Check appliances
Reset clocks, timers, alarms
Check fridge/freezer temps — discard food if in doubt
Recharge everything
Phone, power banks, torches
Top up the power station if you have one
Restock
Replace any batteries or supplies you used
Note what you wished you had
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

Building your power cut kit: what to prioritise

The single most impactful thing you can do is ensure you can power your critical devices - router, phone, fridge - for the duration of a typical UK power cut (usually 2-4 hours, occasionally longer in rural areas or during storms).

Tier 1: must-haves

Portable power station — covers router, phone charging and lights. A 500–800Wh unit handles most outages comfortably. The Jackery Explorer 500 v2 (~£339) is the most popular budget pick; the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (~£499) adds faster 70-minute charging and more capacity.
Torch or LED lantern - LED camping lanterns are brighter and last longer than handheld torches for home use.
Charged mobile phones - keep them above 80% if severe weather is forecast.
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio - for emergency broadcasts if mobile networks are congested.

Tier 2: worth having

Portable power bank - a 10,000mAh unit keeps phones topped up if your main power station is occupied elsewhere.
Camping stove with gas canister - if you have an electric hob, you lose cooking during a power cut.
First aid kit - always useful, power cut or not.
Cash - card terminals fail during outages. Keep £20-50 at home.

Tier 3: longer outages (12+ hours)

Larger power station (1,000Wh+) - to run a fridge and freezer intermittently and prevent food spoilage.
Solar panel - to recharge your power station without mains power during an extended outage.
Bottled water - pumping stations can lose pressure in very extended outages.

Top picks to complete your power cut kit

PCR pick

A portable power station is the foundation of any serious power cut kit. These are the best options for UK homes.

Jackery Explorer 500 v2

Best budget

519Wh handles a typical 4-8 hr outage comfortably. Lightweight, simple to use, and the most affordable quality pick.

~£229 Buy on Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro

Best overall

768Wh covers router, lights and phone charging all night. Charges in 70 min. The #1 pick for most UK households.

~£399 Buy on Amazon

Prices correct at time of writing. Always check Amazon for the latest.

How long do UK power cuts usually last?

Most planned UK power cuts (scheduled maintenance) last 3–4 hours and are announced in advance by your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Unplanned outages caused by storms, equipment faults, or vehicle strikes on power infrastructure are harder to predict.

According to Ofgem data, the average UK customer experiences around 35–45 minutes of unplanned interruption per year — but that average hides significant variation. Rural customers in areas like Scotland, Wales, and the South West can experience longer and more frequent outages during winter storms. Urban areas typically restore faster due to network redundancy.

The UK record during recent winters has been multi-day outages for isolated rural properties after severe storms. If you live in a rural area, planning for a 24-hour outage rather than a 4-hour one is a sensible baseline.

Who to call in a UK power cut

105 is the free national power cut helpline, available 24/7 from any UK phone (mobile or landline). It routes you to your local Distribution Network Operator. Use it to:

Report an outage
Get an estimated restoration time
Report downed power lines or dangerous electrical situations
Register as a vulnerable customer (Priority Services Register)

Do not call your energy supplier (e.g. British Gas, Octopus, EDF) for a power cut — they manage billing, not the physical network. The DNOs are the organisations that own and maintain the cables and substations.

The main UK DNOs by region: Northern Powergrid (North East/Yorkshire), Electricity North West, SP Energy Networks (Scotland/Merseyside), Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (South East/South Central/Scotland), National Grid Electricity Distribution (Midlands/South West/Wales).

Priority Services Register: are you eligible?

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service offered by all UK energy suppliers and DNOs. It provides additional support during power cuts and emergencies. You may be eligible if you or someone in your household:

Is of pensionable age
Is disabled or has a long-term medical condition
Has a hearing or visual impairment
Has a mental health condition
Has young children (under 5)
Uses medical equipment that requires electricity (e.g. oxygen concentrators, dialysis machines)

PSR customers get priority contact during outages, welfare checks in extended outages, and in some cases, hotel or alternative accommodation support. Register with both your energy supplier and your DNO — they operate separate registers. Call 105 or visit your DNO's website to register.

Power cuts in winter: extra considerations

A summer power cut is inconvenient. A winter power cut — especially for elderly or vulnerable residents — can be dangerous. A few additional steps worth taking between October and March:

Keep your power station fully charged at all times from October onwards, not just when storms are forecast. Weather events can develop quickly.
Have a plan for heating. Electric central heating, electric boilers, and heat pumps all stop working in a power cut. Even gas boilers require electricity to run the pump and controls. A portable gas heater (used in a well-ventilated room) or extra blankets and sleeping bags are the practical options.
Check on neighbours. Cold-related illness in elderly residents can develop within a few hours. A knock on the door costs nothing.
Know your gas boiler's pilot relight procedure. Some older boilers need manual relighting after power is restored. Keep the manual or find it online before you need it.

Frequently asked questions

PCR

First, check whether it's just your property or the whole area. Look at your fuse box — if a trip switch has flipped, reset it. If neighbours are also out, call 105 (free, 24/7) to report the outage and get an estimated restoration time.

A full chest freezer kept closed can stay frozen for 24–48 hours. A half-full upright freezer may only manage 12–24 hours. The key is keeping the door shut — every opening lets warm air in and cold air out. Pack frozen food tightly together to help maintain temperature.

Almost certainly not. Modern gas combi boilers and conventional boilers require electricity to power the pump, controls, and ignition. During a power cut, your gas boiler will stop working even if the gas supply is unaffected. A portable power station can power most boilers (they typically draw 100–200W running), though check your boiler's manual for exact requirements.

Candles are safe if used carefully — never leave them unattended, keep them away from curtains and soft furnishings, and keep out of reach of children and pets. LED battery lanterns are a safer and brighter alternative for home use. Candles are better reserved as a backup to a backup.

Yes — under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards, if your power is off for 12+ hours you are entitled to automatic compensation: £75 for the first 12 hours, then £35 for each additional 12 hours (up to £300 for storm-related outages). Payments should be made automatically, but if not, contact your DNO directly. This applies to unplanned outages; different rules apply to planned interruptions.

For most UK households, a 500–800Wh unit comfortably covers a 4–8 hour outage — powering your router, phone charging, and lights. For longer outages or if you want to run a fridge, aim for 1,000Wh+. See our sizing guide for a full breakdown.