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• Check online for weather warnings and updates as adverse weather may cause power cuts
• Find out who manages your electricity network. Your electricity network is the company that manages your electricity cables. This can be done by using the Energy Network Association’s postcode lookup tool
• Unplug non-essential electrical appliances. If you have crucial medical equipment, please contact your electricity network as you may be added to the Priority Services Register
• Prepare an emergency kit including a torch, battery powered radio, essential medication, three days' supply of water, ready-to-eat food, a paper copy of emergency contact numbers, a portable phone charger and any pet or baby supplies necessary
• Share this information with others in your community
• Have a torch handy
• If you have a baby, you may want to consider a cold water sterilising kit
• Have some warm and cosy blankets handy
• Make sure electronic gadgets and phones are fully charged
• Keep a games box handy including books, which can be read by torchlight

• Call 105 to be connected to your local network company for further advice
• If you are on the Priority Services Register, call the number you have been given
• Switch off all appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended, ready for when power is restored. You can leave a light on, so you know when the power is restored
• It’s recommended you use torches during a power outage rather than burning candles or building small fires
• To stay warm during a power cut, wrap up warm and close any windows or external doors
• If you feel safe and are able to do so, consider checking on neighbours or family members who might be more vulnerable in this situation
• If you need support, reach out to friends and family in your area that can help
• Remember, if your landline phone requires a mains power supply, it won’t work during a power cut
• If you have a mobile phone, limit your use to save battery
• Only use other forms of heating and lighting if you can do so safely
• Minimise opening the fridge/freezer door to help keep food and medicine cold
  • A fridge will keep food cold for about 4 hours if the door is kept closed
  • A full freezer will keep temperature for about 48 hours, a half-full freezer for 24 hours.
• When power is restored, turn your appliances back on one at a time

Keep medication in a safe and accessible place. Insulin can usually be kept 
at room temperature for up to 28 days. Always follow the storage instructions detailed 
on your prescription or the packaging of your medicine.

Most stairlifts, bath hoists and other household mobility aids are battery powered, but if you use them during a power cut, they will not stay charged. If you use a mains-operated stairlift, check to see if there’s a manual release handle, which will return the lift safely to ground level if required.

If you use a home renal dialysis machine, breathing device or other medical equipment, make sure you have a back-up battery. If a power cut occurs during home dialysis, the machine’s battery should enable the session to be completed. If your session is interrupted, you should contact your local renal unit as soon as possible. If the power cut occurs before your session, seek advice from your local renal unit before commencing.

If you are connected to a Vattenfall network and you feel you may need support in the event of a power cut we encourage you to join our Priority Service Register so we can contact you and provide support.

If you are on our Priority Service Register our customer contact team will be in touch with you throughout a power cut to make sure you are OK and kept updated.