Get your home ready for a power cut: an independent UK guide

Straightforward, calm advice for UK households on power cuts, keeping warm, food and water, and what to have at home, so a long outage is an inconvenience rather than a crisis.

A family wrapped in blankets playing a board game by lantern light during a power cut

Independent guide. UK Be Ready is an independent website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or part of the UK Government, GOV.UK or the official Be Ready campaign. For official guidance visit beready.campaign.gov.uk.

Quick answerTo be ready for a power cut in the UK, keep a torch and spare batteries, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, blankets and warm clothes, hygiene supplies, a first aid kit, cash, copies of key documents, and at least 3 days of food and water (3 litres of water per person per day). Know to call 105 for a power cut and register for the Priority Services Register if you are eligible.

Start here

Checklist

Power cut checklist

Everything to have at home before the lights go out, as a printable list.

Step by step

What to do in a power cut

The first hour, the first night and the days after.

Plan

72-hour and 7-day home plan

How to go from the official 3 days to a full week at home.

Food

How to stock up on food sensibly

Build a food stockpile gradually, without panic buying.

Kit

Emergency kit UK: what to include

What official guidance says to keep at home, explained.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a UK household be ready for?

The UK Government's Be Ready campaign asks households to be ready for 3 days, so you can manage while support reaches those most in need. Many families choose to plan for 7 days for extra peace of mind, especially in winter.

What is the single most useful thing to have in a power cut?

A good torch or lantern with spare batteries, closely followed by a battery or wind-up FM radio for news and a charged power bank for your phone.

Is UK Be Ready an official government website?

No. UK Be Ready is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with the UK Government. We link to official sources such as beready.campaign.gov.uk so you can check the guidance yourself.

Updated 2026-10-28.