Emergency Power Cuts

You can choose who supplies your energy. This company known as your energy supplier and they bill you for the energy you use. Your network operator is different. They manage and maintain the wires, pipes and other infrastructure which delivers electricity and gas to your home, business and community.

How can I find out who my local network operator is?

If you live in Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Shropshire, there is a very good chance SP Energy Networks is your network operator. However, if you are unsure you can find out who your operator is by entering your postcode at powercut105.com

Your network operator is who you should call if there is a power cut as they are responsible for the network of towers, transformers, poles, cables and meters that deliver power to your home. If you are experiencing a power cut go online to your local network operator’s website to report the problem or call 105 – this is free from most landline and mobile numbers and will put you straight through to your Distribution Network Operator.

Emergency power cuts mean switching power off to at least 5% of UK households at once. They can take place without warning, if National Grid ESO instructs local networks to reduce power demand in the local area to protect the electricity grid and avert longer term issues.

However, where possible, National Grid ESO plans to implement a national timetable of power cuts 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, typical for three-hour periods, until the shortage is resolved, and the network can safely go back to normal.

Each electricity meter is assigned a ‘block letter’. In the event of an emergency power cut, where there is time to implement an emergency rota, different block letters will be timetabled to be without power for around three hours once or twice a day.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means that overall, this is likely to be a challenging winter for energy supply throughout Europe.

If there isn’t enough electricity to power every home and business in Britain at the same time, the Electricity System Operator (otherwise known as National Grid ESO) – which is responsible for ensuring there is enough power to meet demand – could instruct the companies which operate the local power network to reduce electricity demand through emergency power cuts.

Before this happens, there are a number of tools National Grid ESO can use. These include increasing the amount of power being generated, asking large industrial customers to reduce the amount of power they’re consuming and paying customers – through their energy supplier – to use less energy at certain times.

Emergency power cuts are only implemented to protect the electricity network from more damage, which would be more disruptive to customers for a much longer period. They are a last resort and wouldn’t affect everyone at the same time.

Emergency power cuts are unlikely this winter. It’s important to know that before any emergency planned power cuts occur, National Grid ESO undertakes a ‘winter outlook’ every year which helps to inform the electricity industry and prepare for the winter ahead. There are a number of additional factors to consider this year, but it is normal for a winter outlook to be published.

As part of this process, National Grid ESO takes several steps to protect customers. These include:

• Asking companies to generate more power to meet the demand and switching on generators which aren’t currently supplying power to the market.
• Asking heavy industrial users to limit how much power they use during certain periods.
• Reducing household power usage – this includes paying customers to change how and when they use appliances like washing machines and dishwashers or reducing voltage across the country by a small percentage, which would be undetectable.

Each distribution area across the UK is split into 18 blocks which are each made up of a number of discrete geographical areas.  Each of these blocks is assigned a letter between A and U. The letters F, I and O are not used.

In the event of an emergency power cut, different block letters are timetabled to be without power for typically around three hours once a day (however, depending on the severity of the scenario, power may be interrupted multiple times over the period of the event).

Each day of the week is split into 8 three hour SLOTS. The first slot of the day starts at 00:30.

The blocks are allocated to the slots in a way that allows businesses to operate as normally as possible for 3 days in succession. This means that power cuts will either be concentrated between Monday and Wednesday or Thursday and Saturday, with Sunday being shared between all blocks. The more severe the emergency, the greater the number of blocks that will be switched off at the same time.

How can I find my personal power cut timetable (rota)?

Before an emergency power cut starts, a timetable will be available at powercut105.com

The timetable will tell you when you will definitely be without power, and when there is a risk, you may be without power. 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. This is because of the need to phase disconnections and reconnections, creating a short overlap.

If your power is not restored within an hour, please check our website for more information and to report your power cut.

Could I still be affected by emergency power cuts even if my rota block is not affected?

Even if your rota block is not confirmed for disconnection you should be aware that, in isolated instances, due to the large scale of emergency power cuts, there is a possibility that you may experience some short duration (< 3min) effects. For example, dimming of lights or low power. Please only contact us if you continue to experience these issues for more than an hour after the emergency power cut.

You can find your block letter by entering your postcode at powercut105.com

It should also be printed on the top half of your electricity bill in a small square. If you can’t find it, you should contact us by calling 105.

In the unlikely event of emergency power cuts becoming necessary, a rota will be published on powercut105.com – please note, this information will only be made available if a rota is implemented.

National campaigns will be rolled out, with information being available alongside the rota on powercut105.com

*Please note – due to the emergency nature of this sort of scenario, it may not be possible for customers to be given notice ahead of any emergency power cuts being implemented.

The electricity supply will be turned off to certain areas, or blocks, for three hours at a time, depending on the shortage of electricity. This could be affected by the weather, the time of day and the demand for electricity.

At the lowest level of emergency, you could expect to be without electricity for just three slots in a week. However, if there is a severe shortage of electricity, you may be without supply for several slots in a week. You will receive 48hrs notice of Emergency Power Cuts being introduced.

If your electricity supply has not been restored after four hours, please call us on 105.

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.

If emergency power cuts are needed customers will be able to find their rota and what it means for them at powercut105.com by entering their postcode. The rota will only be published once emergency power cuts have been approved to take place.

I’m on the Priority Services Register. How much notice will I get?

Power cuts can occur at any time, without notice.

In the event of an emergency power cut, it won’t be possible for us to give you advanced notice in the way we normally would for a planned outage. This is because we as a Distribution Network Operator may only receive as little as 30 minutes’ notice of an instruction for them to implement a power cut.

We are contacting customers on the Priority Services Register now, to ensure we have up-to-date information and to remind them about being prepared for winter.

Whenever possible, we will begin contacting customers in advance of a rota coming into operation.

Please note that in the event of emergency power cuts being implemented, all customers will be impacted regardless of PSR status.

I have a stairlift- what should I do, and how can I prepare?

Stairlifts often have backup batteries. You should check how long your backup battery is expected to last. If you are unsure, you should speak to your manufacturer.

Emergency power cuts are expected to last around three hours, once or twice per day. A timetable will set out who will be without power and when. You should make sure you have access to a ground floor exist, telephone and heating for the duration of the time you are scheduled to be without power.

Why can’t you protect me from these power cuts?

Distribution Network Operators like us are legally required to implement power cuts, when instructed by National Grid ESO. We are not allowed to protect customers from power cuts unless those customers have been classified as a ‘protected site’ under government and National Grid ESO rules.

Are any sites protected from the power cuts?

A very limited number of sites are protected from emergency power cuts. These are typically locations which are deemed to be critical national infrastructure, such as air traffic control centres and major hospital facilities with accident and emergency departments.

Can my home or business become a ‘protected site’?

Homes cannot become ‘protected sites’ as they are not critical national infrastructure.

Organisations which are not already aware of their protected status will need to apply to become ‘protected’ as this is not automatic. There is very strict qualifying criteria set out by the Government, and more information on this is provided via the Electricity Supply Emergency Code procedures.

What about hospitals?

Most hospitals have backup generators to ensure they can continue to operate in the event of power disruption.

What about hospices, care homes, schools and other core services?

Business continuity plans will vary across specific organisations and service providers. Power cuts can occur at any time so most will have plans in place. Whilst National Grid ESO’s base case scenario does not expect any planned power disruption, it’s sensible to review any additional risks from three hours without electricity, as a precaution.

Businesses which are responsible for caring for vulnerable customers are always encouraged to ensure they have robust business continuity plans in place, which may include investing in their own emergency backup generator system. Find out more about preparing your business for a power cut via our winter preparedness guide available on our website: Preparing your business for a power cut

You should not connect portable generators to your home wiring unless you have had a proper connection installed by an authorised person. An incorrectly connected generator could cause danger to yourself and your electrical equipment.

It may be possible to avoid some power cuts by reducing the amount of electricity you are using.

Please turn off every non-essential item, such as dish washers or tumble dryers, and minimise the use of electric cooking. Also, unplug all equipment that has a standby feature — they use electricity even when you are not using them.

A Demand Flexibility Service (DFS) has been developed to allow National Grid ESO (NGESO) to access additional flexibility when the national demand is at its highest - during peak winter days - which is not currently accessible to the ESO in real time. This new innovative service will allow consumers, as well as some industrial and commerical users (through suppliers/aggregators) to be incentivised for voluntarily flexing the time when they use their electricity.

Find out more on the NGESO website by clicking here. (opens in a new window)

Can I claim compensation?

No. Under Ofgem rules, compensation is not available for an emergency power cut of this nature.

Will I still be charged for electricity?

You will only be charged for the amount of electricity you use.