When your lights go out or your sockets stop working, it is not always obvious whether you are experiencing a power cut or an electrical fault inside your property. Both can interrupt your electricity, but they require different responses.
A network power cut affects the electricity supply reaching your property. An internal electrical fault involves your wiring, appliances, consumer unit or other parts of the installation. Checking which areas are affected and whether an outage has been reported can help you decide who to contact.
This guide explains the differences, the checks you can safely make and when to seek help from an emergency electrician.
What Is the Difference Between a Power Cut and an Electrical Fault?
People often use “power cut” to describe any loss of electricity. However, distinguishing an external supply interruption from an internal problem helps you get the right assistance.
A network power cut occurs when electricity is interrupted on the distribution network. Your local electricity network operator is responsible for investigating and restoring that supply.
An internal electrical fault occurs within your property’s electrical installation or connected equipment. A qualified electrician can investigate the cause and carry out appropriate repairs.
| What you notice | What it could indicate | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Several nearby properties have lost electricity | A wider network power cut | Check your network operator’s outage information |
| Only your property has no electricity | An internal fault or an individual supply problem | Check outage information and seek advice |
| Some lights or sockets work while others do not | A problem affecting particular circuits | Arrange electrical investigation if the cause is unclear |
| A protective switch repeatedly trips | A fault or overload requiring investigation | Avoid repeated resetting and contact an electrician |
| Burning smells, sparks or damaged wiring | A potentially dangerous electrical fault | Keep away and seek urgent assistance |
These signs provide useful clues. They do not confirm the cause without further investigation.
Check Whether Your Neighbours Have Power
If it is safe, check whether neighbouring properties have also lost electricity. You may be able to contact a neighbour by phone or see whether nearby homes appear affected.
When several properties lose power together, an external supply interruption is more likely. Check your local network operator’s website for reported outages and restoration updates.
If your neighbours still have electricity, an internal electrical fault is possible. However, a supply problem can affect an individual property, so this check alone does not establish where the fault lies.
Avoid relying entirely on street lighting. Streetlights may operate on a different supply and may not reflect what is happening inside nearby homes.
Find Out Whether the Whole Property Is Affected
Consider what stopped working when the electricity went off.
Has the entire property lost power, or are the lights still working while some sockets are unavailable? Is the problem limited to one room, one appliance or a particular area?
Partial power loss can help an electrician narrow down the affected circuit. For example, working lights alongside dead sockets may suggest that the interruption affects a socket circuit rather than the whole installation.
Complete power loss can have several causes, including a supply interruption or a fault affecting the property’s electrical system. Do not assume that losing all electricity automatically means there is a network outage.
Make a note of the affected areas so you can describe the problem accurately when requesting help.
Look at Your Consumer Unit Only If It Is Safe
Your consumer unit, commonly called a fuse box, contains protective devices that can disconnect electricity when certain problems occur.
If the unit is safely accessible, dry and free from visible damage, you can look at the positions of its switches without removing any covers. A switch in the off or tripped position may help identify an affected circuit.
Do not approach the consumer unit if you notice smoke, burning smells, crackling, water or signs of damage. Never remove its cover or attempt repairs yourself.
Repeatedly resetting a switch that trips again will not resolve the underlying cause. Leave the affected circuit off and seek professional advice.
For more information about recurring problems, visit our electrics keep tripping page.
Check for a Reported Network Power Cut
Use your mobile phone to check your electricity network operator’s outage information. Searching by postcode can help you find reports affecting your area.
In Great Britain, you can also call 105 to contact your local electricity network operator. This free number connects you with the organisation responsible for the local distribution network.
The network operator can advise whether an outage is known and provide updates where available. Your electricity supplier and network operator perform different roles: the supplier manages your energy account, while the network operator maintains the local electricity infrastructure.
If no outage is listed, the interruption may still be new or affect only your property. Contact the network operator for advice if you suspect an incoming supply problem.
Could an Appliance Be Causing the Electrical Fault?
Think about what was happening immediately before the electricity went off. Did the problem begin when a particular appliance started operating or when equipment was plugged in?
This information can help an electrician investigate, but it does not prove that the appliance is responsible. A fault may involve the appliance, its socket, the wiring or another part of the circuit.
Stop using equipment you suspect is faulty. Only switch off or unplug it if you can do so safely and it is not hot, damaged, wet or sparking.
Do not repeatedly reconnect equipment to reproduce the problem. Instead, tell the electrician which appliance was operating and what happened.
Our electrical fault-finding guide explains how professional testing helps identify the underlying cause.
When Should You Call an Emergency Electrician?
Seek urgent professional advice when electricity loss is accompanied by warning signs such as:
- A burning smell from sockets, switches or the consumer unit.
- Sparking, crackling or visible electrical damage.
- Protective switches that repeatedly trip.
- Water affecting electrical equipment.
- Exposed or damaged wiring.
- An electric shock from an appliance or fitting.
Keep away from affected equipment. Only isolate the electricity if you can do so safely, without approaching damaged equipment or entering a hazardous area.
If there is smoke or fire, leave the property and call 999. Do not attempt to investigate the source or use water on an electrical fire.
Our complete guide to electrical emergencies provides further guidance on recognising urgent electrical problems.
What Should You Do While Waiting for Help?
Use a torch or battery-powered light so you can move around safely. Keep children and pets away from affected equipment.
Where it is safe, switch off cooking and heating appliances that could become hazardous if power returns unexpectedly. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
Record when the interruption started, which areas are affected and any unusual smells, sounds or visible damage. Share these details with the network operator or electrician.
If someone relies on powered medical equipment, follow their equipment’s emergency plan and seek immediate assistance if their health is at risk.
Can an Electrician Restore Power During a Network Outage?
An electrician can investigate faults within your property and establish whether an internal problem is preventing normal operation. However, repairs to the public electricity network are the responsibility of the network operator.
An electrician cannot restore a failed external supply simply by repairing your consumer unit or replacing a socket.
When a wider outage is confirmed and there are no separate warning signs inside your property, follow the network operator’s advice. If an internal fault is suspected, professional testing can help determine the next steps.
Get Help Identifying the Cause of Your Power Loss
If you cannot tell whether you have a power cut or an electrical fault, explain the symptoms before arranging attendance. Tell us whether nearby properties have electricity, whether the whole property is affected and whether you have noticed tripping, smells or sparks.
Emergency Electrician Services provides 24/7 assistance with urgent electrical problems, including internal power loss and faults affecting sockets, lighting and consumer units.
Visit our power cut and power-loss service page for help investigating an internal problem, or contact our team to discuss your situation.
Call 07539 417 962 to confirm availability and upfront pricing. For a suspected network outage in Great Britain, call 105 for assistance from your electricity network operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check whether nearby properties are also without electricity and look for reported outages on your network operator’s website. If only your home or certain circuits are affected, an internal fault is possible, although a supply problem can affect one property.
Use a torch, check whether neighbours have power and consult your network operator’s outage updates. Only inspect the consumer unit visually if safe. Avoid damaged equipment, exposed wiring or wet areas, and seek professional advice if the cause remains unclear.
In Great Britain, call 105 to contact your local electricity network operator about a suspected power cut. They can provide information about supply interruptions. For faults inside your property, contact a qualified electrician. Immediate danger requires assistance from emergency services.
Partial power loss can indicate a problem affecting one circuit, such as a faulty appliance, damaged wiring or a protective device operating. The exact cause needs investigation. Avoid repeatedly resetting switches and arrange professional fault finding if the problem continues.
An emergency electrician can investigate and repair faults within your property’s electrical installation. Repairs to the public electricity network are handled by the network operator. Establishing where the fault originates helps you contact the right service and avoid unnecessary attendance.
Seek urgent electrical advice if power loss accompanies burning smells, sparking, damaged wiring or repeated tripping. Stay away from affected equipment and only isolate power if safe. If there is smoke or fire, leave the property immediately and call 999.
