What to do when your electricity supply is temporarily interrupted
Sometimes we have to interrupt the electricity supply to carry out maintenance on our network. We will write and tell all customers about a planned interruption to the electricity supply at least two days in advance. If you need any more information about a specific planned interruption please telephone the number in the notification letter advising of the interruption. If you are deaf or your hearing is impaired you can call 0800 458 9767 using a minicom.
Sometimes we may not be able to warn you that your power will be going off, because the cause is outside our control (for example, lightning may strike our electricity network). We will try to restore your supply as soon as possible.
If you have medical support equipment you will need to plan in advance another source of power in case of power cuts and you should know how long this source of power will last. You should also make arrangements for alternative medical care if the supply is off for a long time. Your local hospital or GP should be able to help you do this.
What to do if you lose your electricity supply
1. Check your trip switch as follows:
- If your trip switch is in the off position, try to move it back to the on position. If this works, your power should come back on. If this does not work and the trip moves back to the off position, this would indicate that the fault may be with one of your appliances or house wiring circuits.
- To double check this, switch the trip off and unplug all appliances. Then try moving the trip switch back to the on position. If it moves back to the off position, check your internal wiring circuits.
- If the trip stays on, plug in and switch on your appliances one at a time. If the trip switch activates again with a particular appliance, then that's the appliance that is probably faulty.
2. Check to see if any of your neighbours have lost their supply. If they have not, the problem could be with your electrical installation.
3. If the trip switch has not operated, if your neighbours also have no electricity or if you can find no other reason, there may be a problem with the electricity supply in your area. If so please contact us on 0800 195 4141 to report the problem.
4. It is useful to keep a torch handy.
5. If you have a battery-operated radio, listen to the local radio station as we will keep them informed of electricity supply problems especially during times of severe weather. We will also keep your electricity supplier informed.
Switch off appliances
Please remember to switch off all electrical appliances which are not designed to run unattended eg. cookers and electric fires, if they are in use when your supply is interrupted. Turn them off immediately because they will come on again later when you may have forgotten about them. This applies particularly to chip pans, grills and bar fires which could cause fire if they come on unexpectedly.
Leave at least one light switched on so you will know when your power is restored.
Please also remember that door bells and alarm systems may not work when your supply is interrupted and that street lamps may also be off.
Fridges and freezers
Fridges - Leave the door closed if possible until the supply is restored. Chilled products should remain safe for a number of hours. Frozen food in the small freezer compartment at the top of the fridge should remain safe for several hours.
Freezers - These should remain sufficiently cold to protect food for a number of hours without electricity. If you still have the manufacturer's leaflet, it may give you specific times for your model. Please note that as United Utilities does not guarantee a continuous supply of electricity, the company is not liable for any loss of freezer contents. Claims for these should be made to your household insurance.
General precautions
- Open the door as little as possible.
- Cover the freezer with blankets while the supply is off to give extra insulation. Remove as soon as power returns.
- A full freezer will stay colder longer than an empty one. If your freezer is only part full, consider freezing tubs of water in advance (empty ice cream tubs are ideal).
Lighting
To provide some light, ensure you have a torch close to hand and that the batteries are working. If you feel you must use candles, paraffin or gas lamps TAKE GREAT CARE - it is easy to cause a fire. It is recommended you:
- Place them on a firm non-combustible surface where they will not be knocked over.
- Place them away from curtains, soft furnishings and from children and pets.
- Don't leave them unattended.
- Never leave children alone with these, especially overnight in bedrooms.
Heating
If you have an alternative form of heating be sure to use it safely. Don't move a paraffin heater when it's alight, and get it checked if it hasn't been used recently.
Portable generators
If you wish to hire or buy a generator please refer to your telephone directory for generator suppliers. United Utilities cannot recommend particular suppliers.
Please seek professional advice before connecting a portable generator.
Special advice - babies, disabled and elderly
Keeping warm is particularly important to the very young, very old or those who suffer from certain illnesses. It is recommended that to trap warm air, you wear several layers of warm clothing rather than one.
Heat loss through the head is much greater than other parts of the body, wearing a hat should reduce heat loss. Where possible, keeping active will also help to stimulate the circulation and keep you warm.
When you are notified that your electricity is going to be disconnected, heat some water beforehand and fill a covered hot water bottle. You may find it useful to keep some hot water in a vacuum flask to make coffee, tea or soup. Warm drinks may also be available from a kind neighbour. Please make sure your neighbours and friends know how you are managing. They may be able to offer some help.
Special advice - rural dwellers
Farmers and other rural dwellers who consider they have special needs may contact their local NFU office for advice.
Personal computers
If your personal computer is in use when your supply is interrupted, information may be lost. It is advisable therefore to avoid using it around the time of the proposed interruption to your supply.
On a general note, some interruptions are beyond our control but information may be safeguarded by installing an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). These are available from suppliers of computer equipment.
After supply is restored
Timeswitches
Timeswitches for Economy 7 or off-peak metering will normally continue to keep time during most supply interruptions and should not need altering. Very occasionally this does not happen and if you suspect that the timeswitch is wrong after an interruption of supply, you should contact your supplier.
Customer's own timeswitch, eg immersion heaters, will normally need resetting to the correct time and date, unless they incorporate a spring reserve or battery back-up.
Water heating
If you have an Economy 7 timer to heat the water overnight this should be checked afterwards to see that it is set to the correct time. Some modules have an internal battery that keeps the clock going for a number of hours during a power cut. If you need to reset the correct time don't forget to allow for winter time/summer time.
Gas and oil central heating systems
Most systems have a boiler and radiators which will not operate without electricity and when the supply is restored the timers will probably need re-setting.
Electric clocks
Please also remember your electric clocks (including alarm clocks and video recorders) may need resetting.
And finally...
Please be a good neighbour and check up on the elderly and infirm.