News

A short guide to help you work through the most common causes, from island-wide faults to a tripped switch in your own home.

If you lose power, most problems can be traced to one of two things: a fault on the network, or something tripping inside your property. The steps below will help you work out which it is, and what to do next.

No power? What to check first

• Check whether the problem is affecting other properties. Look outside to see if nearby homes, businesses or streetlights are also without power.
• Check your electricity meter. If the meter display is off and has no power, the issue may be a network fault or a blown main service fuse.
• Check for updates. During wider power cuts, updates may also be shared on our website or social media channels.
• Call us on during business hours on 01481 822715 or out-of-hours on 01481 822155 to report the issue. Our engineers may already be aware and working to restore supplies.

If your property is the only one without power

• Check your fuse board or consumer unit. If your neighbours still have power and your meter is on, the fault is likely inside your property.
• Look for any tripped switches. If a switch has tripped, push it fully down to the OFF position before switching it back ON. Some breakers will not reset unless this is done.
• If a main switch will not reset, turn off the smaller switches first. Switch all smaller circuit breakers OFF, reset the larger switch, then turn the smaller switches back on one at a time.
• Identify the faulty circuit. If the power trips again when a particular circuit is switched back on, leave that circuit OFF. The rest of the property should then remain powered.
• Unplug appliances on the affected circuit. Once everything is unplugged, try resetting the switch again. If it stays on, one of the appliances may be faulty.
• If the breaker still trips, contact a qualified electrician. If the circuit trips even with appliances unplugged, there may be an internal wiring fault that needs professional attention.

Still not sure, or still without power?

Call us on 01481 822715 and we'll help. If it's an emergency outside office hours, use our out-of-hours line 01481 822155. You're always welcome to contact us before working through these steps if you'd prefer to speak to someone first.