Skip to main content
Wellbeing

Power cut safety advice

If you are affected by a power cut, it is the Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) who is responsible for maintaining physical electricity supplies to your home or business. You can contact your local DNO by calling 105.

Published: 8 December 2024

If you need to light your home when you’re without power, we would prefer if you used torches and battery-powered candles rather than candles. If you must use candles, follow our candle safety advice.

Don’t try and cook using barbecues or using fires inside your home such as wood-burners.

Turn off any appliances that may be a fire risk if they switch on when the power comes back on (such as hair dryers or electric hobs).

If you’re using a portable heater such as oil or gas, keep it a good distance (at least one metre) from people or furniture. Do not cover them with anything that could catch fire such as clothing.

Candles

We recommend using battery-powered candles instead of candles with real flames.

Candles and tea lights can give a warm glow to a room or fill it with an aroma, but they can also lead to fires. We attend over 20 fires every year caused by candles. If you do decide to use them, please follow our safety advice to keep yourself and others safe.

A battery operated candle lit up.

Candle safety

Be mindful of these safety measures when also using joss sticks and oil and incense burners. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.

Is this page useful?