Here are a few simple ways to ensure you are electrically prepared:
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Sign up for priority service registers
Join the Priority Services Register by visiting thepsr.co.uk. t’s a free service that alerts your gas, electricity, and water suppliers if you need extra support. Registering ensures you are prioritised for help and kept informed during any interruptions.
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Create an emergency kit
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Pack a bag with essential emergency contact details, torches, lamps, and backup phone batteries.
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Keep this bag in one specific place in your home, ideally somewhere you can easily find in pitch blackness.
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Consider Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices
- Consider buying a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) device to provide a few minutes of emergency backup during power cuts.
- While it only provides a few minutes of emergency backup power during a blackout, it gives you vital time to save your work and safely shut down
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Explore backup generators
- Consider buying or renting a backup generator.
- Ensure proper installation by a qualified electrician and regular testing.
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Protect your computers and tablets
- Save your work and back up to an external drive regularly.
- Enable auto-save on your software if available.
- If Wi-Fi is unavailable due to a power outage, use your smartphone’s hotspot or get an internet dongle from your network provider to continue working.
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Telephone systems
- Most telephones use “line current” and will operate during a power cut.
- Check if your mains-plugged telephone has backup batteries to ensure it works without power.
- For businesses, telephone switchboards may shut down or divert calls during power cuts, check with your system supplier.
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Address flooding risks
- If you live or work in a flood-prone area and your meter is below potential flood levels, notify your electricity distribution network operator.
- Elevate appliances to prevent damage during floods.
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Security shutters
- Mains-operated security shutters may not work during power cuts.
- Check if your shutters have a manual override system or battery backup.
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Lifts
- Electrically operated lifts will stop during power cuts.
- Ensure there’s someone on-site trained to manually operate lifts in case of unexpected electricity outages.
