POWER & LIGHT
Power cut preparation checklist
Ten practical things to sort out before the lights go off.
Get the basics in place
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Useful help
Your consumer unit is the box containing the switches or circuit breakers that protect the electrical circuits in your home. It is often near the electricity meter, in a hall, cupboard, garage or utility area.
Keep it simple: know where it is and make sure you can reach it safely. Do not remove covers, touch exposed wiring or attempt electrical repairs. If you see burning, damage, water around electrical equipment, or a switch will not stay on, leave it alone and get qualified help.
Great Britain: energy suppliers and network operators run Priority Services Registers for people who may need extra support. Help can include priority support in an emergency and, where possible, advance notice of planned power cuts.
Northern Ireland: NIE Networks runs a Medical Customer Care Register for customers who rely on electrical medical equipment.
Support varies according to your needs and the organisation providing it. Being registered does not guarantee an uninterrupted supply or that your property will be reconnected first.
If the power is already off
Use the live-outage checklist instead. It includes 105, local network-operator links and the immediate steps to take while the power is off.