What to Do During a Power Cut in Chelmsford

November 11, 2025

Stay Safe and Know What Steps to Take

Power cuts can happen at any time, and when they do, it’s easy to feel caught off guard. Whether you’re in the middle of cooking dinner or working from home, losing electricity can cause both inconvenience and concern.

If you live in Chelmsford or the surrounding areas, knowing what to do during a power cut can help you stay safe, protect your appliances, and get the power back on as quickly as possible.

Step 1: Check If It’s Just Your Property

Before calling for help, find out whether the power cut affects only your home or if it’s part of a wider outage in your area.

  • Check nearby houses or streetlights. If other homes on your road are also without power, it’s likely a network issue.

  • Look at your fuse box (consumer unit). If one of the switches has tripped, it could be an internal fault. Try switching it back on. If it trips again, leave it off — you may have a wiring issue that needs attention.

  • Ask a neighbour. It’s often the quickest way to confirm if others are affected too.

Step 2: Report the Power Cut

If the power cut is widespread, contact UK Power Networks, which supplies electricity to most of Essex including Chelmsford.

  • 📞 Call 105 – this is the free national helpline number for reporting power cuts.

  • 🌐 Visit www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut to check live outage updates or register for text alerts.

UK Power Networks will usually post estimated restoration times and updates for your area.

Step 3: Switch Off and Unplug Appliances

When power cuts occur, it’s best to turn off or unplug appliances to protect them from potential power surges when electricity returns.

  • Unplug TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances.

  • Leave one light switched on so you know when the power comes back.

  • Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve food for as long as possible.

Step 4: Stay Safe and Prepared

Power cuts are usually resolved within a few hours, but it’s wise to stay prepared:

  • Use torches instead of candles to reduce fire risk.

  • Keep your phone charged and have a battery pack on hand if possible.

  • Check on neighbours, particularly anyone elderly or vulnerable.

  • Keep warm in colder months by layering up and staying in one room if necessary.

If you rely on medical or mobility equipment powered by electricity, register with the UK Power Networks Priority Services Register for extra support during outages.

Step 5: Know When to Call a Professional

If you discover the power cut is limited to your home, or your fuse box keeps tripping even after power returns, it’s time to call a qualified electrician. Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or damaged appliances can all cause internal power loss.

At Complete Electric, our team of local electricians in Chelmsford can:

  • Diagnose electrical faults

  • Replace damaged sockets or circuits

  • Repair or upgrade consumer units

  • Carry out safety checks and inspections

Our experienced electricians can quickly find the cause of the problem and get your electrics working safely again.

If in doubt, contact our Electrician in Chelmsford page for fast, professional help.

Step 6: Prevent Future Electrical Problems

While many power cuts are outside your control, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of future electrical issues inside your property:

  • Have your wiring checked every 10 years (or every 5 years for rental properties).

  • Upgrade old fuse boxes to modern consumer units with RCD protection.

  • Avoid overloading sockets with multiple extensions.

  • Schedule regular Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs).

Proactive maintenance helps prevent problems and keeps your home safe.

Local Tip for Chelmsford Residents

Power cuts in Chelmsford are uncommon, but they can happen during storms or network maintenance. If you live in areas such as Great Baddow, Writtle, Springfield, or Chelmer Village, you can sign up for local outage alerts through the UK Power Networks website.

Keeping a small emergency kit at home — with torches, batteries, and a portable phone charger — is also a simple way to stay prepared.

Conclusion

Power cuts don’t have to be stressful. By checking whether it’s a local issue, contacting UK Power Networks, and staying safe while waiting for power to return, you’ll handle the situation calmly and effectively.

If the issue seems to be within your property, our team of qualified electricians in Chelmsford are ready to help. We can quickly identify and repair electrical faults to keep your home or business running safely.

Call 01245 422 306 or email info@completeelectric.co.uk for fast, local electrical support.