If your business is experiencing an emergency electricity problem, the most important action is to contact your local network operator, not your supplier.
Immediate Action: Call 105
In England, Scotland, and Wales, you can call 105 to report a power cut and be put through to your local electricity network operator. This is a free, 24/7 service.
Steps to take during an outage:
Check neighbors: Determine if it is a local issue or just your premises. If neighboring buildings have power, it may be a trip switch issue.
Check Trip Switches: Check your fuse box or circuit breaker for tripped switches.
Safety First: Turn off sensitive equipment to protect from power surges when power is restored.
Keep Fridges Closed: If refrigeration is critical, do not open doors.
Emergency Contacts
Location
Telephone Numbers
National Grid (Midlands, SW, South Wales)
0800 6783 105
UK Power Networks (London, SE, East)
0800 31 63 105
SSEN (Southern England/Scotland)
0800 300 999
Electricity North West
0800 195 4141
Northern Powergrid
0800 66 88 77 (NE) / 0800 375 675 (Yorks)
Northern Ireland
03457 643 643
Business Preparedness & Risks
Emergency Credit (Prepayment): If the outage is caused by a faulty meter or lack of credit, contact your supplier immediately.
Long-Term Outages: If the power is out for more than 12 hours (in normal weather), you may be entitled to compensation.
Generator Hire: For prolonged outages, consider pre-arranging generator hire, particularly if you have critical IT or refrigeration systems.
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): These systems provide short-term, instant power to allow for a safe, controlled shutdown of equipment.
Priority Services Register: Ensure your business is on the Priority Services Register if you have vulnerable staff or rely on power for medical/essential equipment.
Security: If security systems are down, contact your provider to check battery life or arrange for physical security.
Planned Power Cuts
Network operators may sometimes need to turn off power for essential maintenance. You should be notified two days in advance. In the event of a national energy shortage, "rota load disconnections" (planned, temporary cuts) may be implemented to protect the wider network.