Skip to main navigation

Our response to coronavirus

Find out how we're working to keep the lights on in Great Britain throughout COVID-19.
Read more
Home
ESO
  • ESO
  • Group PLC
  • NG in the UK
  • NG in the US
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Investors
  • Data Portal
  • News
  • Contact us
  • Back
  • Who we are
    • Back
    • Home
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Our people
    • How we're organised
    • Meet the board
  • Electricity explained
    • Back
    • Home
    • Electricity explained
    • Monthly Insights
    • Zero carbon explained
    • Carbon intensity explained
    • Electric cars explained
    • Power cuts explained
  • Future of energy
    • Back
    • Home
    • Future of energy
    • Future Energy Scenarios (FES)
    • Innovation
      • Back
      • Future of energy
      • Innovation
      • Strategy
      • News and events
      • Get involved
    • Projects
      • Back
      • Future of energy
      • Projects
      • Early Competition Plan
      • Offshore Coordination Project
      • Distributed ReStart
  • Industry information
    • Back
    • Home
    • Industry information
    • Connections
      • Back
      • Industry information
      • Connections
      • Our role in connections
      • The connections offer process
      • Your connections journey
      • Reports and registers
      • Use of System (UoS) and Virtual Lead Party (VLP)
      • Connections help and support
    • Balancing Services
      • Back
      • Industry information
      • Balancing Services
      • Frequency response services
      • Reserve services
      • System security services
      • Reactive power services
      • Trading
      • Settlements
      • Balancing Mechanism Wider Access
      • Get involved
    • Charging
      • Back
      • Industry information
      • Charging
      • Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS) charges
      • Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) charges
      • Assistance for Areas with High Electricity Distribution Costs (AAHEDC)
      • Connection charges
      • Charging guidance
      • Charging policy developments
      • Charging statements
      • Submit a charging query
    • Codes Homepage
      • Back
      • Industry information
      • Codes Homepage
      • Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC)
      • Grid Code (GC)
      • System Operator Transmission Owner Code
      • Security and Quality of Supply Standard (SQSS)
      • Balancing Settlement Code (BSC)
      • European Network Codes (ENC)
      • Codes calendar
      • Code changes: Beginner's Guide
      • About the Codes Team
    • Industry Data and Reports
      • Back
      • Industry information
      • Industry Data and Reports
      • System Incidents Report
      • Balancing services performance monitoring report
      • Data finder and explorer
      • Forecast volumes and costs
      • GB Electricity System Operator Daily Reports
      • System balancing reports
      • Monthly transmission loss data (4l)
      • System constraints
      • Voltage costs
    • Keeping the lights on throughout coronavirus
    • Accelerated Loss of Mains applications
    • Our consultation responses
  • Our strategy
    • Back
    • Home
    • Our strategy
    • Forward Plan
      • Back
      • Our strategy
      • Forward Plan
      • How we're performing
    • Annual report and accounts
      • Back
      • Our strategy
      • Annual report and accounts
      • Annual report 2019/20
    • RIIO
      • Back
      • Our strategy
      • RIIO
      • RIIO-2 final business plan
      • Future planning 2021 onwards
      • Have your say on our future plan
      • RIIO-2 Stakeholder Group
  • Research & publications
    • Back
    • Home
    • Research & publications
    • Whole electricity system
    • Summer Outlook
    • Winter Outlook
    • ​Electricity Ten Year Statement (ETYS)
    • Network Options Assessment (NOA)
      • Back
      • Research & publications
      • Network Options Assessment (NOA)
      • Network Development Roadmap
    • System Operability Framework (SOF)
    • Future of balancing services
    • Transmission performance reports
    • Regional Development Programmes

Power cut in your area?

Experiencing a power cut? Find out what to do and who to contact.

Breadcrumb

  • Back to home

What to do if there’s a power cut in your area

 

1 Make sure any appliances are switched off

Things like hair straighteners and irons might switch on once the power comes back.

 

2 Call 105 to report a power cut to your distribution network operator

Calling 105 is a free-of-charge call from any network.

National Grid, National Grid ESO and the electricity supplier that you pay your bill to, aren’t responsible for restoring power to your home.

 

3 Check on your neighbours

If the power cut continues, you might want to check on your neighbours, especially if they are elderly or ill.

For more safety advice visit the Power Cut 105 website.

Power cuts explained

While Great Britain’s electricity system is very reliable, power cuts happen for a variety of reasons.

At National Grid ESO we move high-voltage electricity around the country and pass it to distribution network operators who then reduce the voltage and distribute electricity to homes and businesses around the country.

When your home or business loses power, it is your distribution network operator responsibility for restoring power.

National Grid ESO - Who to call during a power cut - map of DNO

Who is my distribution network operator?

Who your distribution network operator is depends on where you live in the country.

Call 105 or use the 105’s online postcode checker to find out who your distribution network operator is.

A man's hands are holding mobile phones and a tablet

How to report a power cut to your distribution network operators

Distribution network operators are responsible for restoring power to your homes and businesses.

You can call 105 to report or get information about power cuts in your local area.

You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put you, or someone else, in danger.

If there’s a serious immediate risk, you should call the emergency services too.

Distribution network operators in the UK

If you already know who your local distribution network operator is, contact them directly on using the details below.

For power cuts in North West England call 0800 195 4141

National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut -ENWL logo

Electricity North West 

www.enwl.co.uk

@ElectricityNW

For power cuts in North East & North Yorkshire call 0800 66 88 77

For power cuts in York, Leeds, Sheffield, Northern Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire call 0800 66 88 77
 

 

National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut - Northern Power Grid

North Power Grid

www.northernpowergrid.com 

@Northpowergrid

For power cuts in Northern Scotland call 0800 300 999 

For power cuts in Central Southern England call 0800 072 72 82

 

National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut - scottish and southern electricity networks logo

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

www.ssen.co.uk

@ssencommunity

For power cuts in Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales & North Shropshire call 0800 001 5400

For power cuts in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Central & Southern Scotland call 0800 092 9290

National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut - SP Energy networks

SP Energy Networks

www.spenergynetworks.co.uk

@SPEnergyNetwork

For power cuts in London, South East and East of England call 0800 31 63 105
National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut - UK power networks logo

UK Power Networks

www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

@UKPowerNetworks

For power cuts in Birmingham, Nottingham, the Midlands, South West England and South Wales call 0800 6783 105
National Grid ESO - who to call during power cut - Western Power Distribution

Western Power Distribution

www.westernpower.co.uk

@wpduk

National Grid ESO
© National Grid 2021

Connect with us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Connect with us
    • Media centre
    • Work for us
  • About us
    • Compliance Statements
  • Privacy policy
    • Cookie policy
    • Terms and conditions
    • Security
    • Modern Slavery Statement
© National Grid 2021
Top