Frequently asked questions

Is National Grid responsible for my power cut?

Almost certainly not directly. National Grid Electricity Transmission runs the high-voltage backbone that carries electricity across Great Britain — it doesn't connect to homes. The company that actually runs the network to your property is your local distribution network operator (DNO), and it depends on where you live: for example, National Grid Electricity Distribution (a separate company, formerly Western Power Distribution) covers the Midlands and South West, while UK Power Networks covers London, the East, and the South East. See our Operators & contact numbers page to find yours.

What's the difference between a DNO and National Grid?

National Grid Electricity Transmission moves electricity in bulk, at very high voltage, between power stations and regions — it's the company that runs the big pylons you see marching across the countryside. A distribution network operator (DNO) takes that electricity and delivers it at lower voltage to homes and businesses in a specific region — the poles, cables, and substations that actually reach your street. There are 14 licence areas across Great Britain, run by six different DNO groups (plus NIE Networks in Northern Ireland), and outages.uk aggregates live data from all of them. See our Operators & contact numbers page for the full list.

Who do I call to report a power cut?

In Great Britain, call 105 — it's free, available 24/7, and automatically routes to your local network operator, so you don't need to know which DNO covers your area first. 105 doesn't cover Northern Ireland: call NIE Networks directly on 03457 643 643 instead. See our Operators & contact numbers page for every operator's own number too.