If you have electricity failure and only you have lost power then:
- Check your trip switch (a circuit breaker fuse system – it will be near your electricity meter). If the trip switch is still on, call your distributor’s emergency line for your
- If the trip switch is off, switch it back
- If it switches back off, one of your appliances may be faulty so unplug all appliances and reset the switch
- If only part of your supply has failed and the trip won’t reset, there may be a fault with your wiring so contact a registered electrician
If electricity is lost for a prolonged period over a wide area, being prepared can make a difficult situation easier:
- Have at least one standard landline phone in the house as cordless phones will not work in a power failure
- Do not open fridges for any longer than is necessary – they will normally stay cold for many hours
These simple steps will help you to stay safe and as comfortable as possible throughout any disruption:
- Check if your neighbours have also lost services; knowing if others are affected will make a difference to what you should do
- If you have a pre-pay meter, check you still have credit
- Contact your distributor to report the fault and ask for advice
- If you lose power for a prolonged period, take precautions to stay safe:
- Avoid the use of a torch and have batteries handy
- A well insulated house can stay warm for 12 hours or longer.
- Register with your utility providers if you consider yourself to be vulnerable
Call 105 in a Power Cut
105 is the free number you can call to report or get information about a power cut. Wherever you live ‘105’ will put you directly through to the right electricity network operator for your area. You can also call 105 with any welfare concerns related to a power cut or if you are concerned about the safety of overhead or underground electricity cables or substations.
Useful information
Electricity network operators that cover Gloucestershire:
Western Power Distribution
https://www.westernpower.co.uk/power-cuts/power-cut-information-and-advice
https://powercuts.westernpower.co.uk/tweets
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks
Are you Ready?
The ‘Are you ready’ booklet brings together advice from various organisation to help you and your family take simple steps to reduce risk, prepare for and respond to emergencies such as fire, flood and loss of power.