⚡ Quick picks
✅ Do these first: they’re free
- Call 105 (free, England, Scotland & Wales) to report a cut or get updates.
- Know where your consumer unit (fuse box) is and how to reset a tripped switch.
- Keep your phone charged when storms are forecast, and download your network's outage map.
- If someone relies on powered medical equipment, join your network's free Priority Services Register.
- Never use a barbecue or camping stove indoors, as they produce carbon monoxide.
Compare our picks
Swipe the table sideways →
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Main downside | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Basics 1000-lumen LED camping lantern | Lighting a whole room | 1000 lumens | Bulkier than a torch | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Blukar rechargeable head torch, 2-pack | Hands-free jobs | 2-pack · rechargeable | Needs charging before a cut | Check price on AmazonAd |
| EverBrite 6-pack mini LED torches (batteries included) | Budget: a torch in every room | 6-pack · LED | Small beam, not a floodlight | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Wind-up / solar FM radio with torch and USB | News when phones are down | Wind-up + solar · FM | Cranking gives a little power for a lot of effort | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Anker Zolo 20,000mAh power bank (30W, built-in USB-C) | Keeping phones charged | 20,000mAh · 30W | Only useful if you keep it topped up, so check it every few months | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Amazon Basics AA batteries, 20-pack (10-year shelf life) | Feeding torches and radios | AA · 20-pack | Disposable | Check price on AmazonAd |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 MAX portable power station (512Wh, LiFePO4) | Router, lights and phones | 512Wh · LiFePO4 | Not for heaters, and won't run a fridge for long | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 power station (1024Wh, 2000W) | A fridge-freezer for hours | 1024Wh · 2000W | Heavy | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 with 100W solar panel (1kWh) | Long cuts, with solar recharge | 1kWh + 100W panel | A 100W panel recharges slowly in a UK winter | Check price on AmazonAd |
We don't show prices because they change daily. Tap “Check price” for today's price on Amazon.
Out Fri 20 NovWhat Happens If Britain Loses Power for 3 Days?
The video that goes with this guide, from the Mains & Drains channel.
▶ Subscribe so you don't miss itLight: what to use instead of candles
Candles are the classic power cut mistake. Battery LED light is safer and brighter. Put one room light where you sit, plus one torch per person.
Amazon Basics 1000-lumen LED camping lantern
A lantern on the table lights the whole room, and it's far safer than candles, which cause house fires during power cuts every winter.
- Room-filling light
- Much safer than candles
- Stands up on its own
- Bulkier than a torch
- Check the battery type on the listing and stock spares
Blukar rechargeable head torch, 2-pack
When you're cooking, carrying a child on the stairs or checking the consumer unit, you need both hands.
- Hands-free light
- Rechargeable
- Two in the pack
- Needs charging before a cut
- A spot light, not a room light
EverBrite 6-pack mini LED torches (batteries included)
Six small torches mean one in every room and a spare by the fuse box, so nobody fumbles in the dark.
- Six torches for one price
- Batteries included
- Small enough for a kitchen drawer
- Small beam, not a floodlight
- Uses disposable batteries
Amazon Basics AA batteries, 20-pack (10-year shelf life)
A long shelf life means they can sit in the kit box until you need them.
- Long shelf life (per the listing)
- Low cost per battery
- Disposable
- Check whether your kit takes AA or AAA
Staying informed and charged
In a wide-area cut, mobile masts can go down after a few hours as their batteries run out. FM radio keeps working.
Wind-up / solar FM radio with torch and USB
A hand crank and a small solar panel keep it going after batteries and power banks run flat, and FM picks up local radio updates during a wide-area cut.
- No batteries needed
- Doubles as a torch
- USB output for an emergency phone top-up
- Cranking gives a little power for a lot of effort
- Small speaker, so it's fine for news but not for music
Anker Zolo 20,000mAh power bank (30W, built-in USB-C)
Your phone is your torch, radio and news feed. A 20,000mAh bank charges a typical phone about four times.
- Roughly 4 phone charges
- Built-in USB-C cable, so there's no hunting for leads
- 30W fast charging
- Only useful if you keep it topped up, so check it every few months
- Heavier than slim power banks
Water and first aid
Water supply usually keeps running in a short cut, but a longer one can affect pumping. Have a few litres per person.
HydraMate collapsible 5L water carriers
Useful if supply is interrupted or for collecting from bottle stations. They fold flat when you don't need them.
- Fold flat for storage
- Good for collecting from bottle stations
- Rotate stored tap water regularly
- Bottled water is the safest option for drinking
General Medi first aid kit (215 pieces + mini kit)
One big kit for the home plus a mini kit for the car or grab bag.
- Large kit plus a bonus mini kit
- Organised compartments
- More than many homes need
- Check contents and expiry dates once a year
General Medi mini first aid kit (92 pieces)
The cheap way to cover cuts and scrapes. Small enough for a grab bag.
- Low cost
- Compact
- Basic contents only
Backup power: only if you have a real need
Portable power stations make sense for home working, medical devices, a freezer full of food or rural lines with long cuts. For most homes the kit above is enough.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 MAX portable power station (512Wh, LiFePO4)
Enough to keep broadband, lights and phones going through a long evening cut. LiFePO4 batteries are made for long cycle life.
- LiFePO4 battery chemistry
- Portable size
- Runs a router for well over a day
- Not for heaters, and won't run a fridge for long
- A big spend if cuts are rare where you live
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 power station (1024Wh, 2000W)
About 1kWh of storage with a 2000W output, which covers most kitchen appliances for short periods and a fridge-freezer for many hours.
- About 1kWh capacity
- 2000W output handles most appliances
- Heavy
- Expensive, so only worth it for a real need (medical, home working, rural cuts)
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 with 100W solar panel (1kWh)
Comes with a panel, so it can top itself up in a multi-day cut.
- Includes a 100W solar panel
- About 1kWh capacity
- A 100W panel recharges slowly in a UK winter
- The most expensive option here
📄 Print it, stick it on the fridge
Free power cut checklist (enter £0): written for UK homes, instant A4 download.
Questions people ask
How long do UK power cuts usually last?
Most are restored within hours. Storm damage to rural lines can take longer, which is when a radio, power bank and stored water matter.
Is it safe to use candles?
Battery LED lights are much safer. If you must use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from curtains.
Do I need a power station?
Probably not. They're worth it for medical equipment, working from home or frequent long cuts. Otherwise a power bank is the better buy.
Why you can trust this guide
We haven’t lab-tested these products, and we won’t pretend we have. Every pick is researched and recommended: we compare specs, UK safety standards, warranties, official guidance and patterns in owner reviews, and we write down the real downsides. No brand paid to be here. Read how we choose.
Official advice and sources: Be Ready (UK Government) · Power Cut 105 (network operators)
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