How to Prepare for a Power Cut: When to Call an Electrician and What to Do

As the colder months arrive, power cuts can become an unwelcome disruption for homes and businesses. Strong winds, heavy rain and faults on the electricity network can all leave properties without power, sometimes with very little warning.

While many power cuts are caused by issues outside your property, others can be linked to faults within your electrical installation.

Knowing how to prepare, what to do when the power goes off and when to call an electrician can help keep your property safe and minimise disruption.

Why Do Power Cuts Happen?

Power cuts can happen for several reasons, including:

• Storm damage affecting overhead power lines
• Faults on the local electricity network
• Planned maintenance by electricity suppliers or network operators
• Overloaded or faulty electrical circuits
• Problems with your consumer unit (fuse box)
• Damaged wiring or electrical equipment

One of the first things to establish is whether the power cut is affecting your entire neighbourhood or just your property.

If nearby homes or businesses are also without electricity, it’s likely to be a network issue rather than a fault within your building.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Power Cut

A little preparation can make an unexpected power cut much easier to manage, particularly during autumn and winter.

Here are a few simple things worth doing:

Keep Essential Items Accessible

Make sure you have torches, spare batteries and a fully charged power bank available. Battery-powered lighting is a safer alternative to candles, particularly in homes with children or pets.

It’s also worth keeping important contact numbers somewhere accessible in case your phone battery runs low.

Know Where Your Consumer Unit Is

Every homeowner should know where their consumer unit is located and how to identify a tripped circuit breaker.

If your power goes off but neighbouring properties still have electricity, checking your consumer unit can help identify whether a circuit has tripped.

However, if a breaker repeatedly trips, don’t keep resetting it. This could indicate an underlying electrical fault that needs professional attention.

Consider Backup Power Options

For households that rely on essential electrical equipment, backup power can provide additional peace of mind.

Battery storage systems and appropriately designed backup power supplies may help keep selected appliances or circuits running during an outage.

It’s important to remember that not all solar panel or battery systems automatically provide electricity during a power cut. Backup functionality needs to be specifically designed into the installation.

What Should You Do During a Power Cut?

If your electricity suddenly goes off, try not to panic.

First, check whether the outage is affecting other properties nearby. You can report a power cut or find information about local outages by calling 105, the free UK power cut helpline.

If the issue appears to be limited to your property, check your consumer unit for any tripped breakers, provided it’s safe to do so.

You should also:

• Switch off sensitive electrical equipment to help protect it when power returns.
• Leave a light switched on so you know when electricity has been restored.
• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve food.
• Avoid using candles where possible.
• Never use outdoor generators, barbecues or camping stoves indoors.

If you notice burning smells, buzzing sounds, smoke or signs of overheating, stay away from the affected equipment and seek professional assistance.

When Should You Call an Electrician?

Not every power cut requires an electrician. If the problem is affecting the wider electricity network, your local network operator will usually be responsible for restoring the supply.

However, there are situations where calling a qualified electrician is the safest option.

Your Power Keeps Tripping

If your circuit breakers repeatedly trip or your electricity cuts out whenever you use a particular appliance, there may be a fault within your electrical installation.

An electrician can investigate the cause and identify whether the issue is related to faulty wiring, an overloaded circuit or damaged equipment.

Only Part of Your Property Has Lost Power

If some rooms have electricity but others don’t, the issue may be linked to an individual circuit.

A qualified electrician can safely test the affected circuits and locate the fault.

You’ve Noticed Warning Signs

Flickering lights, buzzing sockets, burning smells or unusually warm switches should never be ignored.

These symptoms can indicate electrical faults that may become dangerous if left unresolved.

If you suspect an immediate fire risk, avoid using the affected electrical installation. If there is smoke or fire, evacuate and call 999.

How Can an Electrician Help Prevent Power Cuts?

Although an electrician can’t prevent faults on the National Grid or local electricity network, they can help reduce the risk of power interruptions caused by problems within your property.

At SJM Electrical Services, our team can help with:

• Electrical fault finding and repairs
• Consumer unit inspections and upgrades
• Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs)
• Testing and inspection of existing wiring
• Surge protection
• Planned electrical maintenance
• Advice on suitable backup power solutions

Regular electrical inspections can identify potential problems before they result in unexpected outages or more serious safety concerns.

What About Businesses?

For commercial properties, even a short power cut can cause significant disruption.

Loss of lighting, internet connections, security systems or essential equipment can affect productivity and, in some cases, lead to financial losses.

Businesses should consider having a plan in place that covers emergency lighting, critical equipment, data protection and safe evacuation procedures.

Depending on your operations, it may also be worth exploring uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), battery backup or other suitable standby power systems.

Regular electrical testing and planned maintenance can help identify weaknesses within your installation and reduce the risk of avoidable downtime.

Be Prepared Before the Next Power Cut

Power cuts aren’t always preventable, but being prepared can make a real difference.

Knowing where your consumer unit is, keeping emergency supplies accessible and recognising the warning signs of electrical faults can help protect your home or business.

If your property has experienced repeated electrical issues, it’s always better to investigate them early rather than waiting for a complete loss of power.

Need Help with an Electrical Fault?

At SJM Electrical Services, we help homeowners, landlords and businesses across Worthing, Sussex and the South East keep their electrical installations safe and reliable.

Whether you’re experiencing repeated power interruptions, need an electrical inspection or want advice on improving your property’s electrical resilience, our experienced team is here to help.

Call 01903 680599

Email [email protected]

Get in touch today to discuss your electrical requirements and make sure your property is prepared for whatever the colder months bring.