Frequently Asked Questions

There's a national energy shortage. This means there's not enough electricity to power every home and business in Britain at the same time right now. We need to reduce the amount of electricity we're using for a short time. To do this, a power cut rota has been introduced.

Power cuts because of an energy shortage are very rare and are only used when other less disruptive steps taken by the industry have not been able to ensure there is enough electricity to meet demand. They are designed to protect the electricity system that powers your everyday life from long-term damage.

You could be without power for around three hours at a time. You should regularly check your power cut rota on this website as it might change each day.

You'll know when you'll be without power by entering your postcode to find your timetable.

We know it's hard when the power is off and that it will cause disruption. The Government and energy industry is working hard to find a solution to this emergency as quickly as possible.

In simple terms it's a national timetable to fairly share power across the country. The electricity system in Great Britain is sectioned into blocks that can be temporarily switched on and off, typically for three-hour periods, until a shortage is resolved, and the network can safely go back to normal. Details on these blocks can be found below.

Block letters help the electricity networks identify which part of the electricity grid your home is connected to.

Your home and street are connected to the electricity network through a substation. This connection is given a code known as a 'Block Letter'. You can find this on the first page of your energy bill or by entering your postcode on this website.

Most people who live in the same Block Letter will be timetabled to be without power at the same time.

It's based on where you live and how your property is connected to the electricity network.

You can find your Block Letter:

• By entering your postcode on our site

• By looking for the letter at the top of your energy bill. It usually appears near the supply address and will be a single letter in a box. Depending on who supplies your energy, it might be labelled 'Rota Block Letter' or it may not have a label.

Not everyone will have a power cut at the same time. We will spread these out across the country to reduce disruption as much as we can.

Properties located within the same Block Letter will be without power together. That means you and your next door neighbours will probably be without power together, but this won't always be the case. Because of how your street is connected to your local electricity grid, different properties might go off power at different times.

By sharing power outages in this way, we can get back to normal quicker.

Every one of us can help by reducing how much energy we use and by checking on neighbours, friends and family.

Prepare. Make a plan for when the power goes out. Check your timetable by entering your postcode, charge up mobile phones and torches.

Care. Check on friends and family who might need extra help. Reduce how much power you're using where possible.

Share. Share this information to make sure others know what to do as well.

A rota (timetable) is available on this website. The rota tells you when you will be without power, and when there is a risk you may be without power. You can find your rota by entering your postcode on the homepage.

The times you will be without power are shown in red and indicated with a cross. The times you are at risk of a power cut are shown in amber and indicated with a question mark.

Your power might be switched off or reconnected around 30 minutes before or after the published time depending on national electricity use at that time.

Please check this website every evening and view the emergency power cut rota plan to keep updated of any possible changes to the schedule.

The intention is to cut power and reconnect it again as close as possible to the times given in the timetable. However, this might not happen precisely. You might be switched off or reconnected around 30 minutes before or after the published time.

If your power has not been reconnected more than an hour later than planned, please visit your local network operator's website to report it. Phone lines will be extremely busy, but if you can't go online then you can call 105 for free to report it. You can find your local network operator's details by entering your postcode on our homepage.

In most cases, customers who are medically dependent on electricity will be familiar with the process and limitations of their equipment as power cuts can occur from time-to-time during a typical year, including during severe weather, for regular maintenance or due to damage and other routine faults. These customers often have backup power sources to keep vital equipment powered for several hours during a power failure.

Customers who require a continuous supply of electricity for medical reasons and would need medical support during a power cut, should seek advice from their local health service provider.

Backup power supplies and associated equipment should be regularly checked and maintained by a competent person. If you're concerned, you should speak to your medical equipment or health care provider now.

You can take some simple steps to prepare:

Prepare.

• Print this page so you have it available when there's no power.

• Charge your mobile phone and any portable battery packs you own

• Keep a torch (and spare batteries) somewhere handy or, even better, use a wind up or solar powered torch. Avoid using candles, as they pose a fire risk.

• Keep your fridge and freezer closed during the power cut. Modern appliances will keep food cold during a four hour power cut, as long as the door is kept closed.

• Switch off all electrical appliances that shouldn't be left unattended, ready for when the power comes back on. Think about electric blankets, cookers, etc.

• Leave a light switched on (even if it's daylight), so you know when the power comes back on.

• Follow your electricity network company on social media for updates.

• If you rely on a stairlift, can you stay on the ground floor for the duration of the power cut? What do you need to bring downstairs now?

* Without power your personal alarm or monitoring equipment may not work. Think about how you can raise an alarm should you need help - do you have a neighbour who could come and check on you? Could you stay with them while the power is out?

Care.

• If you're able to, check in on your neighbours and friends.

• Ensure your household and your neighbours have warm clothes, blankets and food which doesn't need heating.

• Engineers do not need to access your home during this power cut. If someone visits your home unexpectedly, ask to see identification. Genuine engineers carry identification cards and won't mind waiting outside while you verify their details. If in doubt, keep them out.

Share.

• Share this information with friends and family, so they know what's happening. Their timetable might be different from yours. You can check for them by entering their postcode instead.

• Beware of misinformation which can spread online. Verify information at EnergyEmergencies.org.uk or by visiting your electricity network company's website.

Gas boilers, heat pumps, gas and electric hobs (including induction hobs) will not work during a power cut.