How to prepare for storms and bad weather

When severe weather is forecast

There are some important precautions you can take when severe weather is forecast.

Prepare

Make a plan: know what to do if you have a power cut

• Follow your local network operator on social media so you can find local updates. Enter your postcode on PowerCut105.com to find your local network operator.
• Keep a mobile phone fully charged so you can use it to go online for updates or call if you have a power cut.
• Keep a torch handy in case you are without power during the night.
• Have warm clothes, blankets and food which doesn’t need heating accessible.

Gas boilers and heating, electrical appliances and your home's internet and landline connections will stop working in a power cut. You might also lose mobile phone signal. To prepare for this:

• Write down the phone number to report a power cut – this is 105 in England, Scotland and Wales and 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. You can also save the number in your mobile phone.
• Keep a battery or wind-up radio (and spare batteries) at home. There might be updates communicated by radio during a power cut. A car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside. Write down on paper the frequencies of any local or national radio stations you use for news updates. You could add these to your household emergency plan.
• It can be helpful to keep these notes with other items you might have, such as a torch or radio, and in a place that’s easy to find in the dark. 
• If your only way of making emergency calls is through a landline phone, or if you have a telecare kit connected to your landline, contact your landline provider to understand whether your phone will work during a power cut. If your landline will not work during a power cut, your landline provider might offer you a free solution (such as a back-up battery unit), for a minimum of one hour, that would enable you to call the emergency services during a power cut if you needed to.
• If you have a personal alarm or diabetes sensor (also known as telecare devices) or other connected equipment monitoring your health (such as diabetes sensors), speak to your device provider/manufacturer to understand how they will function during a power cut. 

Care

Check in with people who might need extra help

• Check on neighbours, family and friends to make sure they have a plan if they have a power cut
• Check now to see if you or someone you know can get extra help during bad weather through the Priority Services Register
• The Priority Services Register is a free service to help people who have additional needs. You can sign up by contacting your energy supplier and network operator. Remember to keep your supplier or network operator updated if your circumstances change

Share

Share this information so friends and family can make a plan too

• Share this information and the PowerCut105.com "Be Winter Ready" advice page with others.

Available support for those with additional needs

The energy networks can help if you have additional needs because of your medical or personal circumstances. Registering for your local network operator’s free Priority Services Register also helps us prioritise getting help to you.

If you depend on power for medical equipment and don’t already have your own power cut plan, you should speak to your healthcare provider now. Power cuts can happen all-year-round so it’s important you are prepared and know what to do.

Check how you or someone you know can get extra help during bad weather with the Priority Services Register.

If your only way of making emergency calls is through a landline phone, or if you have a telecare kit connected to your landline, contact your landline provider to understand whether your phone will work during a power cut. If your landline will not work during a power cut, your landline provider might offer you a free solution (such as a back-up battery unit), for a minimum of one hour, that would enable you to call the emergency services during a power cut if you needed to.

If you have a personal alarm or diabetes sensor (also known as telecare devices) or other connected equipment monitoring your health (such as diabetes sensors), speak to your device provider/manufacturer to understand how they will function during a power cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What do I do if there's a power cut?

  If you have a power cut, you can follow Energy Networks Association's power cut advice.

• What’s the role of electricity network operators?

  Electricity network operators monitor bad weather closely and prepare their response with extensive emergency plans.

  Before a storm. Preparations don't just happen just before a storm. We make sure trees are trimmed all year round to cut the risk of them falling or their branches touching power cables or other infrastructure. We also plan shifts for winter, so extra emergency teams are available around the clock when needed.

  When a storm is forecast. Network operators arrange standby emergency teams and place vehicles and resources in strategic locations - like big substations or in remote parts of the network. That way we can make repairs quickly if we need to. Control rooms and local network operator customer service teams also bring in more staff so we can keep customers informed and support our engineers on the ground.

  During a storm. We co-ordinate a joint response from across the energy networks. We collate information from our members and share updates through the news and social media. We also update our Be Winter Ready advice and our social media channels with the latest information and customer guidance.

• Can I get compensation for a power cut?

  You might be entitled to compensation if you have a power cut. Find out more at PowerCut105.com.

• How do I find my electricity network operator?

  You can enter your postcode at PowerCut105.com to find your local electricity network operator.

• Why might I receive a notification saying my power has been restored when it's not?

  This can be because of something known as a "hidden" or "nested" fault on the power line. Electricity North West explains more:

• What if I have medical equipment that relies on power?

  If you use medical equipment that requires a power supply, make a plan with your care provider and/or clinical care teams now about what will happen in a power cut. The plan should set out what action you, or someone you care for, needs to take and who to contact if there’s a power outage. Ensure that your care provider, clinical care team and/or equipment supplier has supplied you with enough information so that you understand how the equipment works and what to do if there is a power disruption.

• Will my mobile phone or landline work during a power cut?

  Your home's internet and landline phone connection will stop working in a power cut. You might also lose mobile phone signal. If your only way of making emergency calls is through a landline phone, or if you have a telecare kit connected to your landline, contact your landline provider to understand whether your phone will work during a power cut. If your landline will not work during a power cut, your landline provider might offer you a free solution (such as a back-up battery unit), for a minimum of one hour, that would enable you to call the emergency services during a power cut if you needed to.