Power Cut Backup Power Checklist

A power cut is rarely dangerous in itself, but it is inconvenient in ways that catch households out: the phone goes flat, the torch has no batteries, the number for the network operator is saved on the device that has died. The kit that gets a household through is small and cheap to assemble: multiple torches with spare batteries, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, fully charged power banks, warm clothing and blankets, and paper copies of important contact numbers¹. The Met Office adds a separate battery charger and suggests storing the power cut helpline number, 105, on your phone in case power and mobile networks are affected².

The single most useful habit is keeping things charged before you need them. Government guidance for storms is to charge mobile phones, power banks and any back-up batteries for medical equipment in case there is a power cut³. A charged power bank that only charges a phone is still worth having⁴.

This checklist sets out what to have ready, what each item does, how to keep it working, and how to charge and store the batteries safely. Work through it once, then check it before winter and before any named storm.

The power cut kit list

Have these ready before the lights go out. Each item earns its place because it does something the others cannot.

1. Multiple torches and spare batteries. The Met Office advises more than one torch along with extra batteries, so a single failure does not leave you in the dark⁶.
2. A battery-powered or wind-up radio. Radio keeps you informed when mobile networks and broadband are down¹.
3. Fully charged power banks. For phones, tablets and compatible medical devices⁸.
4. A separate battery charger. So devices can be topped up without relying on the mains supply².
5. Warm clothing and blankets. Power cuts in cold weather are a heating problem as much as a lighting one¹.
6. Paper copies of important contact numbers. Including 105, the free power cut helpline, in case your phone dies¹.
7. A non-mains powered landline telephone, or a checked alternative. Ask your landline provider whether your phone or telecare kit works in a cut¹¹.
8. Knowledge of your fuse box and trip switches. So you can tell whether the problem is your electrics alone¹².
9. Battery back-up for essential medical equipment. Agreed with your care provider or clinical team⁸.
10. A plan for electric gates. Make sure they are open before a storm, so you are not trapped or locked out¹².

Power bank or power station: what each one keeps running

A power bank and a portable power station do different jobs, and most households need the first long before they need the second. A power bank is a pocket-sized battery that charges a phone, tablet or compatible medical device⁸. A power station is a larger battery with mains sockets, covered in more depth in Portable Power Stations: What They Do and How to Choose.

The official starting point is modest. Government guidance describes the essentials for coping with a power cut as battery candles, torches and batteries, and a mobile phone power pack¹⁴. A charged power pack "can be very helpful in an emergency or power cut. Even if it just charges a phone"⁴. If you are weighing up the two, see Power Bank or Portable Power Station.

Smaller power stations cover phones, laptops and lights

A power station in the 200 to 500Wh class is the step up from a power bank: enough to keep a phone, a laptop and a lamp going through an evening, without the fuel, fumes and ventilation needs of a generator. It suits a household that wants a light on in the room it is sitting in, or a laptop charged for work, rather than one trying to run heating or a fridge.

What it can and cannot do comes down to capacity, which is explained in Watts, Watt-Hours and Surge Explained and What Capacity Power Station Do I Need?. Before buying, decide what you actually want to keep running, which is the subject of Deciding What to Keep Running When the Mains Fails. For most households the honest answer is phones, a light and a radio, and a power bank plus torches covers that.

If you rely on medical equipment, a power station is not a substitute for a plan. Government guidance is to make a plan with your care provider or clinical care teams now about what will happen in a power cut, and to make sure essential medical equipment has a battery back-up⁹. Power cuts affect equipment such as stair lifts, bath hoists and adjustable beds⁸. Parents of technology-dependent children are advised to think through hoists, feeding pumps, mattresses, ventilators, monitors, lamps and nebulisers, and the battery back-up or alternative for each¹⁶. More detail sits in Powering CPAP, Oxygen and Other Medical Devices From a Battery.

Safe charging and storage for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are in far more of the home than people realise: mobility aids, mobile phones, power packs, laptops, children's toys, power tools and e-cigarettes¹⁷. They are safe when treated well and dangerous when they are not, which is why every fire and rescue service in the UK now gives the same advice.

• Charge batteries in a safe, visible location, away from flammable materials and escape routes¹⁸.
• Do not charge devices in hallways, landings or near doors where they could block your escape¹⁹.
• Do not cover the charger, battery or device while charging, which can cause overheating or even a fire²⁰.
• Do not overload power sockets or use unsuitable extension cords, and use uncoiled extension leads rated for your devices²⁰.
• Unplug after charging and use manufacturer-approved chargers²¹.
• Always follow the battery usage, storage and charging guidelines in the user guide¹³.

The same rules apply to the batteries in your power cut kit as to an e-bike. Charge batteries in a safe, visible location, away from flammable materials and escape routes²⁰. Do not cover the charger, battery or device while charging, as this can cause overheating or even a fire²¹, and do not charge devices in hallways, landings or near doors where they could block your escape²². For a fuller walk-through, see Safe Battery Charging at Home Checklist and Lithium-Ion Battery Safety at Home.

Signs a battery is failing, and what to do about recalls

Check your batteries regularly. Fire services advise inspecting your product for damage or warning signs that a battery might be failing and becoming a fire risk²³. Warning signs include hissing or cracking sounds, and lumps, leaking or physical damage to the battery casing²⁴.

If a battery shows signs of failing, turn off the device and unplug it from the power source immediately, then call the device manufacturer or retailer for further instructions²⁴. If a battery shows signs of overheating, swelling or other damage, do not use it: dispose of it appropriately and report the defect to the manufacturer²¹. A battery you suspect is damaged should be recycled and should not be used or charged²⁰.

Recalls are the other route by which a safe-looking product becomes dangerous. Manufacturers issue recall notices if an electrical appliance could develop a fault, including a risk of electric shock or fire²². If a product is recalled, stop using it immediately, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and arrange repair, replacement or return if required²⁶. Check the Government recall page and the Electrical Safety First list of recalled items²⁷.

Registering your appliances means you hear about a recall first. Registration needs the model name or number, serial number and purchase date²². You can also register for safety alerts and product recalls for e-bikes and e-scooters²⁶. For power banks and power stations, keep the receipt and the manual, and check the maker's own safety instructions.

Keeping the kit ready, and where to get help

A kit is only useful if it works when you reach for it. Test torches and radios, replace batteries, and top up power banks on a regular schedule, and do it before winter and before any named storm. The Met Office's winter preparation advice includes storing the power cut helpline number on your phone². The Met Office also advises knowing where your fuses and trip switches are, testing smoke alarms regularly, and keeping a supply of new batteries in torches and radios¹².

If the power goes, call 105 free and you will be put through to your electricity network operator⁵. You can also visit the Powercut 105 website to find your supplier and report a power cut¹¹. In Scotland, the national emergency plan sets out the same 105 number for power cuts²⁸. In Northern Ireland, the advice for strong winds includes keeping phones, laptops, tablets and power banks fully charged, and having telephone numbers to hand¹².

Some households need more support. The Priority Services Register gives, wherever possible, advanced notice of scheduled power cuts¹⁰. Sign up for it in case of power cuts⁶. It is designed to keep the most vulnerable customers up to date in a power cut and provide additional support if needed¹⁶. If you have a landline, contact your provider to check whether your phone or telecare kit will work during a power cut; providers may offer a free back-up battery unit for a minimum of one hour to enable emergency calls¹¹.