How to Get Power Cut Compensation in the UK?
Unexpected power cuts can be more than just inconvenient—they can spoil food, interrupt work, and in extreme cases, affect electrical medical devices. Many UK residents are unaware that they may be eligible for power cut compensation if the outage meets certain criteria. This guide walks you through who you can claim consumption from, how much you could receive, how to apply, and what to do if your claim is rejected.
Who Can You Claim Power Cut Compensation From?
In the UK, you may claim compensation for power cut from your electricity network operator (the company that maintains local power lines), not your energy supplier. You can get it if your home’s supply is cut off through no fault of your own (e.g., a network fault or maintenance issue).
However, if the power outage is caused by a faulty meter or empty prepayment credit, then your power supplier, not the network operator, handles it. Likewise, nationwide emergencies or country-wide shortages (like a major national blackout) are not covered.
Here are some of the Distribution Network Operators and their licence areas. You can find your network operators here:
Distribution Network Operators (DNO) | Licence Areas |
Electricity North West | North Western England |
Northern Powergrid | North Eastern England, Yorkshire |
Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks | Northern Scotland, Southern England |
UK Power Networks | Eastern England, London, South Eastern England |
SP Energy Networks | Southern Scotland, Cheshire, Merseyside and Northern Wales |
National Grid Electricity Distribution | East Midlands, West Midlands, Southern Wales, South Western England |
How Much Power Failure Compensation Can You Get?
The amount of compensation you may be entitled to is regulated under Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards of Performance, which sets fixed payment amounts based on the duration, cause, and scale of the power outage.
1. Unplanned Power Outages in Normal Weather Conditions
If your power goes out during normal weather conditions, you may be eligible for compensation from your network operator. The amount you can claim depends on how many properties are affected and how long your power is off.
Less Than 5,000 Premises
If fewer than 5,000 premises are affected, you can get £95 if your home is without power for more than 12 hours. After that, you can get £45 for every additional 12-hour period.
More Than 5,000 Premises
If the power outage affects over 5,000 homes, the threshold for compensation is longer. You can receive £95 only if the blackout exceeds 24 hours. After that, you will get the same £45 for every additional 12-hour period, up to a maximum of £390.
Multiple Cuts Bonus
If your electricity goes off four or more times in a year, with each outage lasting three hours or more, you're entitled to an extra £95 payment. This is in addition to any compensation for the individual power outages. The relevant period is the financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.
2. Unplanned Power Outages in Severe Weather Situations
Severe weather is one of the common causes of power outages. Storms are classified into two categories—Category 1 and Category 2, depending on how severely they affect the electricity network.
Storm Category 1
For severe storms (Category 1), power outage compensation applies if you're without power for more than 24 hours. You’ll receive £85 for the first 24 hours, then £45 for every additional 6-hour period, up to a maximum of £2,165. For example, if the power outage lasts 30 hours, you would receive £130 (£85 plus £45).
Storm Category 2
For the most extreme storms (Category 2), compensation starts after 48 hours without power. You’ll receive £85 once the 48-hour threshold is reached, plus £45 for every further 6-hour period, capped at £2,165.
3. Planned Power Cuts Without Notice
If a planned outage takes place without at least two days’ notice, or happens on a different day than originally announced, the network operator must pay you £40.
How to Claim Compensation for Power Cut?
In most cases, you won’t need to do anything—compensation payments are usually made automatically. The network operator is legally obliged to pay eligible customers and will usually contact you directly.
However, it’s wise to be proactive. First, find out who your local network operator is by visiting the Power Cut 105 website or simply dialing 105 from any UK phone – this free service connects you to your network company. Reporting the fault promptly helps ensure accurate timing of the outage.
What to Do If You Don’t Get Power Cuts Compensation?
If you’re entitled to compensation and don’t get it right away, contact your network operator. By regulation, unplanned outages (non-weather) should be paid within 10 working days. For storm-related (severe weather) outages, allow up to 4 weeks. If payment hasn’t arrived after these windows, write or phone the operator, referencing the Guaranteed Standards scheme. They may need your account details or a claim form. (Customers are paid by bank transfer or cheque.)
To claim, it helps to have key information: the dates/times of the cut, your postcode, and whether the cut was planned or due to weather. Some operators have online claim portals. Otherwise, contact details for each Distribution Network Operator (DNO) can be found via the Energy Networks Association website. If a planned work notice was wrong or missing, mention the £40 guaranteed payment you’re due.
How to Prepare for a Power Cut?
Being prepared for a power cut can make a real difference in how you manage the disruption. Here are some tips to help you get ready:
Charge Your Phone & Backup Power. Whenever a storm is forecast, keep your phones fully charged and have a power bank ready. This way, you can stay informed and call for help. For complete home readiness and peace of mind during a power outage, consider powering your household with EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, as it can instantly power up your entire home when the storm arrives or a power cut hits. With up to 30kWh battery backup, it can provide weeks of power that keeps all your appliances like fridges, lights, etc., running as normal.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra Portable Power Station
Store Water & No-Cook Food. Keep bottled water and some ready-to-eat foods (tins, snacks) handy. Unpowered stoves/freezers mean you’ll want non-perishable food and drinks you can prepare without electricity.
Unplug Appliances & Leave a Light On. Before the power goes off, turn off and unplug expensive electronics (TVs, PCs, heaters) to avoid damage from a surge when power returns. It’s also smart to leave one light switch on, so you know immediately when power is restored.
Prepare an Emergency Kit. Have a small kit with essentials – a torch, battery radio, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, and copies of important numbers (105 for power cuts, 999 for emergencies). Include any special items like medication or baby supplies.
Sign Up for Priority Services. If you have young children, are elderly, or have health issues, register for your energy supplier’s Priority Services Register. This ensures you get extra support during power outages (phone calls, assistance, etc.).
Know Who to Call. Check and report power cut via the free number 105 in Great Britain. This connects you to your local network operator. They will give you updates and estimated restoration times.
By taking these steps ahead of time, you’ll minimize disruption when the lights do go out.
Conclusion
Power cuts can be frustrating, but knowing your rights and how to claim power cut compensation can turn an inconvenience into an opportunity for financial relief. If you're affected, check your eligibility, contact your network operator, and don’t hesitate to follow up. Being prepared also makes a big difference—keeping an emergency kit handy and exploring reliable backup power options, like EcoFlow power stations or solar generators, can keep your life running smoothly during unexpected outages. Staying informed and ready is the best way to take control when the lights go out.
FAQs
Can you get compensation for power cuts?
You are entitled to compensation if your gas or electricity supply is cut off for an extended period. Compensation levels are determined by duration of the power outage, the weather severity, and the number of properties affected. Your network operator automatically issues payments at a set time after the outage.
How do I claim compensation from an energy company?
First, verify your eligibility by looking at the type and length of the outage to know how much is owed to you. Usually, network providers will do the work themselves without you having to call them. If this doesn’t happen within the designated period, usually ten working days or four weeks, you should get in touch with them personally.
How much is compensation for the loss of electricity in Scotland?
If the downtime was scheduled, Scottish citizens will receive a £35 reimbursement. You will get £85 if a storm category 1 takes out your electricity for 24 hours or a category 2 causes a 48-hour outage. Every six hours of power loss entitles you to an extra £40, capped at £2000.
How do I complain about a power cut in my area?
Your local network provider is the first point of contact in case of an outage. They will brief you on whether the outage was intentional due to maintenance or repairs of the grid. The provider will also be the first one to receive your criticism. You can escalate your complaints through the Energy Ombudsman, who handles all disputes with network providers.
What Causes a Power Cut?
Power cuts can be either planned or unplanned. Unplanned cuts often result from unforeseen events like extreme weather. Planned cuts occur due to essential maintenance by your local electricity distributor (DNO). Emergency planned cuts (rota load disconnections) happen when electricity demand exceeds supply, as instructed by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to protect the entire system.