Will there be power cuts in the UK this winter?

The short answer for winter 2026/27

Nationally, no. NESO — the National Energy System Operator, which balances Britain's grid — published its early view of the coming winter and expects the electricity system to remain secure and reliable through winter 2026/27, with a de-rated margin of 5.5 GW, an 8.8% buffer over expected peak demand. It notes that some periods may be more finely balanced, particularly in January. Its full Winter Outlook follows in the autumn, and this page is updated when it does.

Locally, yes — there always are. The power cuts that actually reach households are caused by weather damaging the local network: a tree on an overhead line, ice on a cable, a flooded substation. Those are the cuts worth preparing for, and they have nothing to do with whether the country has enough generation.

What NESO's numbers mean

The de-rated margin is the gap between the electricity the system can realistically count on at the coldest, darkest, stillest moment of the winter and the demand it expects at that moment. It is de-rated because not every power station or wind farm can be assumed to be running; the figure already discounts for that. A 5.5 GW cushion is comfortable by the standards of recent winters.

When margins tighten — a cold, still evening in January when the wind drops — NESO can issue a notice asking generators to make more capacity available. Those notices make headlines, but they are a routine tool for keeping the margin healthy, not a warning that the lights are about to go out. A national shortfall would be signalled well in advance through official channels, not discovered on the night.

The honest summary is that the national picture is a reason to watch the weather forecast, not the grid.

Where the power cuts actually come from

Look at our live power-cut tracker on any given day and you will see dozens of small local faults being fixed, and after a named storm you will see tens of thousands of homes off supply at once. That is the real pattern. The storm names and weather warnings trackers are a better predictor of a power cut at your address than anything NESO publishes.

Most cuts are restored within hours. Rural homes on long overhead lines wait longer, and after a major storm the last properties can be off for days while crews work through the damage. Your electricity network operator — not your supplier — fixes the fault, and 105 reaches them free from any phone in England, Scotland and Wales.

What to have ready

The government's own list for a power cut is short. A torch for every person rather than candles, a battery or wind-up radio for updates when the mobile network is down, a charged power bank so your phone can reach 105, and warm layers and blankets because the heating goes off with the lights.

Keep the fridge and freezer doors shut: our food safety in a power cut guide has the Food Standards Agency's time limits. Save 105 in your phone now, and know where your fuse box is so you can tell a trip from a cut. Our power cut preparation guide walks through the rest, room by room.

If someone at home relies on electricity

If anyone in the house depends on powered medical equipment, is older, disabled or has a young baby, sign up to the Priority Services Register. It is free, you register through your energy supplier or network operator, and it gets you advance notice of planned work and priority help during a cut. Our energy bill help hub explains who qualifies and how to register.

For medical equipment specifically, talk to the network operator in advance about what they can provide during a long cut, and keep the equipment's own battery back-up charged and tested.

Power stations and generators: who actually needs one

Most households do not. A charged power bank keeps phones alive through the longest realistic cut, and that is the item that matters. A portable power station earns its price in three situations: powered medical equipment at home, working from home in an area that loses power often, or a rural property on a long overhead line where multi-day cuts are a known risk. Outside those, it is a comfort purchase, and it is fine to say so.

Petrol generators are a different category of risk. They run outdoors only, well away from doors and windows, because carbon monoxide from a generator in a garage or conservatory kills people every winter. If you are considering one, read our generator safety guide first.