UK Power Cut & Winter Blackout Emergency Checklist (72-Hour Guide)

1. Immediate First Steps (First 30 Minutes)

• Check Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Box): Verify whether an RCD/trip switch has flipped inside your home or if street lighting and neighbours are also dark.
• Dial 105 (Free National Power Cut Helpline): Connects you directly to your regional electricity operator (UK Power Networks, National Grid, SSEN, SP Energy Networks, Northern Powergrid, or ENW).
• Unplug Sensitive Appliances: Unplug TVs, desktop PCs, and electric hobs/irons so they are protected from voltage surges when power returns. Leave one hall light switch on so you know when mains power is restored.
• Fill Containers If Taps Are Still Running: If you live in a flat or pumped-water area, fill a clean pot or collapsible carrier immediately in case electric booster pumps go offline.

2. Sizing Your Backup Battery Power (Wh)

Track both stored capacity (Wh) and solar generation (Wh/day) in PrepTrack

• Smartphone (1 full charge): ~15–20 Wh per day.
• Rechargeable LED Lantern (8 hours): ~20–30 Wh per night.
• 4G/5G Mobile Router or FTTP ONT + Router: ~10–15W continuous (~240–360 Wh per 24 hours).
• CPAP Medical Device (8 hours, humidifier off): ~150–250 Wh per night (register on your supplier's free Priority Services Register!).
• Kitchen Fridge-Freezer: ~800–1,200 Wh per 24 hours (requires a 1,000+ Wh LiFePO4 power station).

3. Safe Indoor Warmth When the Combi Boiler Stops

• Create One "Warm Room": Pick one small, south-facing inner room, close curtains, block door draughts, and gather the household together.
• Insulate the Person First: Merino or synthetic thermal base layers, fleece mid-layers, hats, thick socks, and 3-season sleeping bags or duvets require zero fuel.
• Indoor-Approved Calor Gas Cabinet Heaters: A 4.2 kW butane cabinet heater burns roughly 0.3 kg of gas per hour (~13.8 kWh/kg). Always crack a window for ventilation and keep a working BS EN 50291 Carbon Monoxide alarm in the room.
• Never Use Outdoor BBQs or Petrol Generators Indoors: Charcoal BBQs, patio heaters, and petrol generators emit lethal levels of odourless Carbon Monoxide in minutes.

4. Fridge, Freezer & No-Cook Food Strategy

• First 4 Hours (Fridge): A closed fridge keeps milk, meat, and dairy safe (<5°C) for roughly 4 hours. Eat perishable chilled items first.
• First 24–48 Hours (Freezer): A full, unopened freezer holds safe temperatures for up to 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). Wrap blankets over the exterior of the freezer (avoiding any vents) if power is out.
• Hours 24–72+ (Pantry Staples): Transition to ready-to-eat tinned protein (tuna, mackerel, corned beef, baked beans), oatcakes, peanut butter, UHT milk, and dried staples cooked on a ventilated camping stove.