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What to do if…
your whole home loses power and you are unsure if it is a local outage

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

If there is fire, smoke, sparks, a burning smell, or a fallen power cable, move away and call 999. Otherwise, do one safe check of neighbours or streetlights and your consumer unit, then report a wider power cut on 105 in England, Scotland or Wales, or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t touch or move fallen power cables, damaged electricity equipment, or anything caught on them.
  • Don’t repeatedly force a trip switch or RCD back on if it trips again.
  • Don’t use barbecues, camping stoves, outdoor heaters, or generators indoors.
  • Don’t rely on candles if you have a torch, phone light, or battery light.
  • Don’t keep opening the fridge or freezer to check it.
  • Don’t assume it is your supplier’s fault before checking whether it is a local network outage.

What to do now

  1. Scan for immediate danger. If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, hear arcing or buzzing from electrics, or see a fallen cable, move people and pets away. Turn off the main switch only if it is safe to reach, then call 999 if there is fire, smoke, or immediate danger.

  2. Check whether nearby power is also out. Look for neighbours’ lights, streetlights, shop lights, alarms, or other visible signs of power nearby. Do not go outside if there are damaged cables, severe weather, or another hazard.

  3. Check your consumer unit once. Look for the main switch, RCD, or a trip switch that has moved to OFF. If one trip switch is off, unplug or switch off likely high-load appliances such as a kettle, toaster, heater, washing machine, tumble dryer, or oven, then try switching it back on once.

  4. Stop troubleshooting if it trips again. If the switch will not stay on, leave it off. Treat this as a possible home electrical fault and contact your landlord, letting agent, housing provider, or a qualified electrician.

  5. Report a likely wider power cut. In England, Scotland and Wales, call 105 for free or use the Power Cut 105 website to find your local electricity network operator. In Northern Ireland, call Northern Ireland Electricity Networks on 03457 643643 or use Powercheck.

  6. Reduce damage and make the home safer while you wait. Switch off or unplug sensitive electronics such as computers, TVs, games consoles, and chargers. Leave one light switched on so you know when power returns.

  7. Protect food and basic comfort. Keep fridge and freezer doors shut as much as possible. Set up one safe lit area with torches or battery lights, and keep phones on low-power mode if mobile signal is working.

  8. Act early for health or accessibility needs. If someone relies on powered medical equipment, a stairlift, a telecare alarm, or essential heating and the situation cannot be kept safe, call 999 for immediate risk. If it is stable but extra help is needed, ask your supplier or electricity network operator about the Priority Services Register in Great Britain, or the NIE Networks Customer Care Register in Northern Ireland.

  9. If you rent, report an only-your-home fault as urgent. Tell the landlord, agent, or housing provider that the whole home has lost power and the consumer unit will not reset. Mention any specific safety issue, such as no safe lighting, no heating for someone vulnerable, or a burning smell.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now about compensation, insurance, or replacing spoiled food.
  • You do not need to test every appliance tonight.
  • You do not need to know the exact cause before reporting a wider outage or asking for urgent help.
  • You do not need to keep checking the fridge or freezer; keeping the doors shut is the useful first step.

Important reassurance

A whole-home power loss is often caused by a local network fault or one household circuit tripping. One careful check, then contacting the right network or repair route, is enough for the first few minutes.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions may need help from your electricity network operator, energy supplier, landlord, insurer, a qualified electrician, or emergency services depending on what happened.

Important note

This is general information, not electrical, legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or professional advice. If there is immediate danger, fire, smoke, damaged electricity equipment, or an urgent medical need affected by the power cut, contact emergency services.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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