Understanding Emergency Power Cuts

We understand that you will have some questions so click here to view our Frequently Asked Questions.  

Further information to support customers is also available in our 'Helpful information' section below.

If there was ever a national energy emergency that required planned Emergency Power Cuts, information would be accessible through the national website powercut105.com.

During a declared national energy emergency which would use planned Emergency Power Cuts, the current 105 telephone number would also activate a special high-capacity service that would direct you to where you can find out your block letter (an alphabet letter to indicate where you are connected to our network). You will be able to hear it or ask for it to be texted to your mobile. Knowing your block letter is very important as it will help you read the national planned Emergency Power Cuts rota (timetable) and know if or when your power supply might be affected.

For many years the power network in Great Britain has been sectioned into alphabetical blocks. In a national energy emergency, if a planned Emergency Power Cuts rota must be introduced to fairly share the power that is available amongst everyone, it is important you know your block letter as it will be used in the rota to indicate if and when your power may be affected.

Your block letter appears on your electricity bill.  You can also get it by visiting powercut105.com and entering your postcode to find your local electricity network operator. 

In a declared national emergency 105 - the national number to call in power cut - would also activate an additional service so you can get your block letter over the phone if you do not have online access.

If you’re a Priority Services customer, it doesn’t mean your electricity is restored first or protected in a power cut. It means we know about your medical or personal needs if you were ever affected by a longer duration power cut (e.g. several hours or more) or, in a wider regional or national incident, we can ensure partners like local authorities and emergency services who would lead and coordinate regional emergency responses know where the most vulnerable members of communities are located.  

If the area you live in must have an Emergency Power Cut, you will go off supply alongside other customers, so it is important, especially if you are medically dependent on electricity, to be prepared and know what to do. In a planned Emergency Power Cut your power would be affected for at least three hours, once or twice a day. When customers join our free Priority Services Membership they receive advice and support on how to be prepared.

• Ensure you have a backup plan in place for any electrically powered medical equipment. If you don’t have one, speak with your medical provider in the first instance. Network operators, like Northern Powergrid, cannot do this for you. If you are struggling speak to your GP.
• Make sure you know how long your medical equipment’s backup supply will work. (Remember an Emergency Power Cut can last at least three hours each time, once or twice a day.) 
• Test your backup plan. 
• Regardless of the cause of a power cut, visit our be prepared page to see important advice and know what to do before, during and after a power cut.  
• Find your block letter now and note it down in a safe place in case you ever need it. You can find it at the top of your energy bill or on powercut105.com/findoperator. 

If planned Emergency Power Cuts were ever to happen, not everyone in the country will be off supply at the same time.

It is likely you and your neighbours will be without power together, but this won’t always be the case. The way that the houses on your street are connected to your local power network, may mean you are without power at a different time to those living nearby. Typically, you would be without power for at least three hours, once or twice a day.

As with any power cut, your appliances, electrically powered medical equipment, lights, gas boilers, heat pumps, broadband, and home phones will not work. Due to the number of customers impacted across Great Britain, mobile phone service will also be extremely limited and may drop out entirely. 

If there was ever a national energy emergency, it is important that we work together to conserve energy and protect the power network.  The industry has a range of options to use before using Emergency Power Cuts but you can also do your bit to help reduce the overall peak demand.

• Turn off lights that are not needed
• Unplug appliances and devices not in use
• Avoid using large electrical appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers and hot tubs at peak times
• Save your power shower until later
• Charge electric vehicles overnight