A rare amber weather warning has been issued across the entire UK, putting many at risk of power cuts.
Bad weather is often to blame for disruptions to services such as electricity, gas or internet due to damage or system faults caused by hazardous conditions.
However, you don’t have to be left completely in the dark during an unplanned power cut.
Experts at Citizen’s Advice have pointed out that you may be entitled to compensation in some circumstances. They also provide important information on who to contact, what to do and how to stay safe during a power outage.
If you live in England and your power is cut due to bad weather, you may be eligible for £85 in compensation if it was off for 24 hours. If it’s due to a severe storm, you may be entitled to the £85 only once it hits the 48-hour mark.
After these deadlines, you could receive an additional £40 for each extra six hours you are without electricity. This is capped at a maximum compensation of £2,000.
You should expect to receive this compensation into your bank account or via cheque within four weeks of the power being restored. If not, you may need to contact your supplier to make a claim.
When it comes to gas supplies being cut off, there are a few more conditions that need to be met before you could be entitled to compensation. If more than 30,000 homes were affected, the supplier took reasonable steps to prevent the cut during bad weather or you caused the gas supply to be cut off, you won’t be able to get compensation.
You generally shouldn’t have to claim compensation from your gas network operator as they normally try to contact you if you’re owed money. The gas network operator will usually send the payment to your supplier who will credit your account and alert you to this.
If you find yourself in an unplanned power cut, Citizen’s Advice recommends calling 105 if you’re in England, Scotland or Wales or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. This free call line contacts your electricity network operator who will be able to give you further information, help and advice about the power cut.
The Government’s Prepare Campaign urges people to plan ahead for power cuts, particularly by signing up to their energy supplier’s Priority Service Register if they’re eligible so they can get additional support during power outages. It also advised having battery or wind-up torches at home, with full stock of spare batteries, and keeping these in areas that are easy to find in the dark.
In the event of a power outage, the government has issued advice for Brits to steer clear of dangers such as power lines and to switch off or unplug electrical appliances like ovens, fryers, televisions and computers. It’s recommended to keep your fridge and freezer doors shut to maintain their coolness.
If you have an infant, it’s wise to have ready-to-use formula available in case boiling water isn’t an option. Your internet and mobile signal might be affected by the blackout, but car radios can be used to stay updated on the situation.
