What to do in a power cut (plus free printable checklist)

When the lights suddenly go out, it’s completely normal to feel a bit thrown off. I know I used to scramble around in the dark looking for a torch, worrying about the food in the fridge, and trying to remember the right number to call.

I quickly realised that relying on a dying phone battery and a spotty 4G connection to Google “what to do in a power cut” isn’t a great strategy. That’s why I prefer having a physical, offline plan.

I’ve put together this simple, calm guide to walk you through exactly what to do when the electricity drops, how to keep your home warm, and how to stop your food from spoiling. At the bottom of this post, I’ve also included a free Power Cut Protocol printable you can download and tuck into your home emergency folder.

1. Assess the situation

Your first step is simply figuring out if the issue is just in your house or if it’s a wider grid outage.

• Look out the window: are the streetlights out? Are your neighbours’ houses dark? If the whole street is pitch black, it’s a grid issue.
• Check your fuse box: if the rest of the street has electricity, grab your torch and check your trip switches. A faulty appliance might have just tripped your main switch.
• Call 105: if it is a wider outage, dial 105 (the free UK power cut helpline) from your mobile to report the issue and get estimated repair times.
• Locate your emergency lighting: grab your main torch or battery-powered lantern. (This is why it’s so helpful to write down exactly where these are kept on your printable checklist.)

2. Practical safety steps

When the power goes out, the first instinct is often to light a bunch of candles. While they look cosy, they are a fire hazard — especially if you have a young child or a pet navigating a dark room. I always stick to battery-powered lanterns or my phone’s torch instead.

• Unplug heat-producing appliances: turn off the oven, hob, iron and hair straighteners. If the power returns while you are out of the room, you don’t want these heating up unattended.
• Protect sensitive electronics: unplug computers and TVs to protect them from potential power surges when the electricity is restored.
• Leave one light switched on: this is your signal. You’ll know the exact moment the power comes back without constantly testing switches in the dark.
• Keep outdoor gear outside: never bring outdoor heaters, camping stoves or BBQs indoors to cook or keep warm. They emit carbon monoxide and are strictly for outdoor use only.

3. Will the food in my fridge be okay?

One of the biggest worries during a power outage is food spoilage. The golden rule here is very simple: keep the doors closed. Every time you open the fridge or freezer, cold air escapes.

If you keep the doors firmly shut, your appliances are incredibly well-insulated and will protect your food for quite a while:

• The fridge: keeps food cold for roughly 4 hours.
• A half-full freezer: keeps food frozen for roughly 24 hours.
• A full freezer: keeps food frozen for up to 48 hours.

4. Staying warm in a winter outage

If you lose power during a chilly UK winter, you just need to trap whatever residual heat is left in your home.

• Consolidate your space: pick one central room for everyone to stay in and close the doors to all unused rooms.
• Block draughts: roll up towels or use draught excluders at the base of doors to stop heat escaping into the hallway.
• Layer up: wearing multiple thin layers traps body heat far better than one chunky jumper.

Download my free Power Cut Protocol printable

When the Wi-Fi drops, you need information at your fingertips. I designed this simple, one-page Power Cut Protocol for you to download, print, and fill in with your own vital details (like where you actually keep the spare batteries and your utility account numbers).

Print it out today, fill in the blanks with a pen, and pop it into a physical folder. Taking five minutes to prepare it now makes things so much easier the next time the lights go out.