Check if you can get a payment for a power cut

What causes power cuts

Power cuts can happen if wires, cables and other equipment:

• are faulty
• are damaged, for example during a storm
• need to be maintained or upgraded

Who fixes power cuts

Local network operators make sure the pipes and wires that carry electricity and gas are working properly. Your local network operator is responsible for fixing power cuts in your area.

They must follow the rules that are set by law. These rules cover England, Scotland and Wales.

If your power is cut off, your local network operator must fix the problem within:

• 12 hours for interruptions outside of severe weather
• 24 hours in severe storm category 1 weather
• 48 hours in severe storm category 2 weather

This depends also on how many homes and businesses are affected.

We monitor how well they restore energy supply and how prepared they are to deal with supply issues. We will take action if we think companies are not meeting the rules we set.

Report an unplanned power cut

If your electricity or gas supply is cut off because of an unplanned power cut, you can:

• report it directly to your local network operator using their website
• call 105 for free who will put you through to your electricity network operator

If your supply is cut off because of a faulty energy meter, contact your energy supplier instead.

Find your local electricity network operator on the Energy Network Association website.

Find your gas network operator on the Meter Point Administration Service website.

When you will get compensation

You will automatically be paid by your local network operator if you do not have power for a certain number of hours. How much compensation you will get depends on:

• reasons for the power cut
• how long you were left without power
• if it was planned
• whether it was a network operator’s fault

You will not be paid for:

• blackouts caused by a national power shortage
• damage to electrical equipment or appliances
• a low supply after a power cut

We review and update the amount you will be paid for a power cut each year based on inflation. See adjustments to the Guaranteed Standards of Performance for 2026.

If your electricity is cut off

How much your network operator pays you depends on:

• how many properties are affected by the power cut
• whether severe weather conditions caused the power cut
• if you own a home or business

What you could get paid

You can get £100 for homes or £195 for businesses if:

• less than 5,000 properties are affected for more than 12 hours
• more than 5,000 properties are affected for more than 24 hours

You will get an extra £45 for every additional 12-hour period without electricity.

For example, if the power cut lasts more than:

• 12 hours and is interrupted for 36 hours, you could get 2 additional £45 payments, adding up to £90
• 24 hours and is interrupted for 72 hours, you could get 4 additional £45 payments, adding up to £180

The maximum amount you could be paid is £400 if the power cut affects 5,000 or more properties.

If you have more than 4 power cuts in a year

You could get an extra £100 if your power has gone off more than 4 times between 1 April and 31 March the following year. Each power cut must have lasted at least 3 hours. This applies to homes and businesses.

You must make a claim with your local network operator who will decide if you should get this payment.

If your electricity is cut off in severe weather

We use 2 storm categories to decide how much compensation is given for power cuts during severe weather.

We base these on how the storm has affected the electricity network and how many faults it has caused in a high-voltage area in one day. For example, if it has damaged pylons and overhead cables.

The categories are different to the storm categories issued by the Met Office.

Storm category 1

This is where unusually bad weather conditions, including lightning, causes at least 8 to 13 times more faults than normal.

Storm category 2

This is where very severe weather causes at least 13 times more faults than normal.

What you could get paid during severe weather

What you are paid depends on the storm category and how long you went without electricity. This applies to homes and businesses.

For storm category 1, you can get £90 for the first 24 hours and an extra £45 for every 6 hours after.

For storm category 2, you can get £90 for the first 48 hours and an extra £45 for every 6 hours after.

The maximum amount you can claim for both categories is £2,235.

If your gas supply is cut off

Your gas network operator must give you 7 working days’ notice if they plan to do maintenance work. If they do not give you notice, you may get £40 extra.

Homes

For planned gas cuts, you can get £50.

For unplanned gas cuts, you can claim £70 extra for every additional 24 hours your gas supply is off. The amount increases depending on how long your gas supply is off.

Businesses

For planned and unplanned power cuts, you can get £120.

How you will be paid

You do not need to make a claim. This could be through a cheque, cash or bank transfer. Your network operator will automatically pay you if they have your bank details.

They may also pay you through your energy supplier. If that happens, the money will be added to your energy account or prepayment meter if you have one.

If you have not been paid

Network operators should first make sure the power cut is fixed and all their customers have electricity and gas again. They should then arrange to pay customers for the interruption.

If you did not receive a payment automatically and it has been a few months, contact your network operator directly. If the payment has been missed, they may owe you an extra £40.

Extra help for priority service register customers

For both planned and unplanned power cuts, network operators must offer customers on the priority service register extra help. For example, giving them battery packs so that they can still charge phones or medical equipment. What each company offers will be different.

You will not receive extra payments for being on a priority service register.