Most winter power cuts last a few hours. Some last days, after a storm, a cold snap or a failure on the grid. Either way, the first few hours decide whether it's a dull evening or a stressful one, and the real dangers are rarely the dark. They're fire, carbon monoxide, and cold.
The good news is that a couple of hours of preparation now covers almost all of it.
The three things that actually hurt people
Carbon monoxide. This is the big one. Barbecues, camping stoves, gas heaters not designed for indoor use, and petrol generators all produce carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Never use any of them inside a home, garage or enclosed balcony, even with a window open. A battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm costs very little and is worth having in any home with gas appliances or a fireplace.
Fire. Candles cause far more house fires than the power cuts that prompt people to light them. Use torches and LED lanterns instead. If you do use candles, put them in a proper holder on a stable surface, never leave them unattended, and blow them out before you sleep.
Cold. Your home loses heat quickly once the heating stops, particularly if the boiler or heat pump needs electricity. Don't try to heat the house with a gas oven or hob, as that's another carbon monoxide risk.
Staying warm
- Pick one room and live in it: ideally small, interior, and away from the windows. Close the doors and block draughts with towels.
- Layer up. Several thin layers, a hat, and dry socks work better than one thick jumper. Sleeping bags and duvets come out of the cupboard early.
- Keep moving, keep drinking. Warm drinks and food help your body make heat. A flask filled before the water heater goes cold is a good first move.
- Check on others. Older neighbours, anyone with young children, and anyone who relies on powered medical equipment are the most at risk. Knock on the door and ask.
Food and the fridge
Keep the fridge and freezer closed. As a general guide, an unopened fridge stays cold enough for about four hours, a full freezer for around 48 hours, and a half-full one for about 24. Eat from the fridge first, then the freezer, then the cupboard. If you're in any doubt about something that has been above 5°C for more than a few hours, throw it away.
If it's genuinely cold outside, a cool box on a balcony or in an unheated outbuilding can help, but only if it won't freeze or attract animals.
Light, power and information
- Torches and headlamps with spare batteries. A headlamp keeps your hands free.
- A charged power bank (or two). Put your phone into low-power mode, dim the screen, and use it for calls and messages rather than scrolling.
- A battery or wind-up radio so you can still hear official updates if mobile networks are congested or masts lose power.
- Know who to call. Report the outage to your network operator rather than your electricity supplier (in the UK dial 105; in Spain, check the number on your bill for your distribution company). Reserve 112 (EU) or 999 (UK) for real emergencies.
- Cash in small notes. Card readers and cash machines stop working with the power.
When the power comes back
Surges can damage electronics. If you can, unplug sensitive equipment (computers, TVs, the boiler's control unit if the manufacturer advises) and switch things back on one at a time after the supply has been steady for a few minutes. Check the freezer, reset clocks and timers, and take a look at pipes in unheated areas if it has been very cold.
The five-minute prep list
- Test your torches and put fresh batteries in.
- Charge your power banks, and keep them topped up through winter.
- Buy a battery carbon monoxide alarm if you don't have one.
- Keep a few litres of water, some food that needs no cooking, and a flask somewhere easy to find.
- Agree a plan with your household, and write down the numbers you'd need, because your phone may not be to hand.
None of this means preparing for the worst. It's just making sure the worst case is a quiet, slightly chilly evening. For a fuller kit list, see our Disaster Prep guide and the FAQ on what should be in a home emergency kit.