Preparing for a power cut

• Keep a battery-powered radio tuned in to your local radio station. 
• Keep a torch with fresh batteries in a place where you can reach it easily.
• If you use other forms of heating and lighting, such as paraffin heaters and candles, don't leave them unattended.
• Switch off appliances and lights, but leave on light on so you know when power has been restored.
• If you have elderly or infirm neighbours, check to make sure they are comfortable. If you know of anyone who needs priority service, e.g. anyone on a ventilator or dialysis machine, please contact our Careline team by phoning freephone 0800 622 838.
• If we have warned you in advance that the electricity will be turned off, boil some water and keep it in a thermos flask. You can use it to make hot drinks or fill a hot water bottle if it gets too cold.
• Don’t open the freezer door unless you have to – this helps food stay frozen for longer. When the power comes back on, check the food inside. Food should keep for about eight hours without power. If the food is still hard and icy, you can leave it in the freezer. Turn the freezer to its maximum setting for 24 hours, before putting it back on a setting that keeps it at -18°C.

If the food has started to defrost, you may need to throw it away, depending on the type of food.

Throw away any food that you would eat frozen, for example ice cream, if it has started to defrost. Do not refreeze these foods. If meat and fish, or foods containing these, have started to get soft, throw these away too. Watch out for liquid coming out of defrosting raw meat because this could spread bacteria to other foods.