Check for Power Cuts in Your Area: Staying Informed and Prepared

Power cuts are disruptions in the electricity supply. These interruptions can happen due to a wide range of reasons and can essentially bring your whole life to a standstill. When the electricity cuts out, essential appliances like refrigerators, heating systems, lights, and communication devices become inoperative, leading to discomfort, potential food spoilage, and challenges in maintaining safety and connectivity. 

That is why you need to know how to check for power cuts in your area, which will keep you updated on the power status so that you can take precautionary steps to protect yourself, your family, and your home. One of the most important preparatory measures for any power outage is to get a small generator.

Causes of Power Cuts

Power cuts occur for a lot of different reasons in the UK. Let’s look at some of the top reasons why we are impacted by power outages in our daily lives.

1. Natural Disasters

It is important to check for power cuts in your area, especially for those caused by natural disasters. Natural disasters like storms, flooding, and heavy snowfall often cause widespread power outages. For instance, Storm Henk left at least 38,000 households out of electricity earlier this year.

During Storm Arwen of 2021, over a million homes across the UK were left without power, some for up to ten days. The storm caused massive damage to overhead power lines, mostly in the north of England and Scotland, which was considered one of the most severe weather-related power outages in recent UK history.

Similarly, in February 2022, Storm Eunice brought down power lines and affected more than 1.4 million homes. The power outages caused by natural disasters are considered the most dangerous as you never know how long the natural disaster will last and when authorities try to restore the electricity. Most often, these power outages can last for days.

2. Planned Maintenance

You can check for power cuts in your area on a regular basis for planned power outages. Scheduled power cuts are obviously necessary for proper maintenance of the grid, but they do have significant consequences. These cuts are usually planned well in advance and communicated to affected residents. For instance, the UK National Grid regularly scheduled power cuts to carry out upgrades or maintenance to its systems. The exact longevity of these power cuts depends upon the type of maintenance, but they could usually last for several hours, which is why it is crucial to check for power cuts in your area and be well-prepared.

3. Wildlife Interference

Wildlife, particularly small animals like squirrels and birds, can cause unexpected power cuts by damaging transformers or power lines. In 2019, a curious squirrel in West Yorkshire caused a power outage affecting nearly 2,000 homes. The animal came into contact with electrical equipment and caused damage that led to a localized power cut.

Similarly, in the village of Airth near Falkirk, a large flock of starlings destroyed the power cables in 2020, resulting in electricity outages for a large number of homes. Mostly, these electrical disruptions only last for a few hours until the authorities fix up the impacted infrastructure.

4. Equipment Failure

Equipment failure is another frequent cause of power outages, which is even more important in the UK due to its aging electricity infrastructure.

In June 2023, parts of Oxford experienced a major power outage caused by equipment failure within the local distribution network. This incident left thousands of homes without electricity for several hours.

A more notable incident occurred in August 2019, when a major power failure in England and Wales affected nearly one million people, causing disruptions across public transport networks, including airports and train stations. The issue stemmed from a simultaneous failure at two major power generators, Little Barford gas station and Hornsea offshore wind farm.

While authorities try to solve the equipment issue in the fastest possible manner, fixing major equipment failures can take hours or even days.

How to Check for Power Cuts in Your Area

Due to different types of power outages, you must know how to check for power cuts in your area in order to stay updated about the latest happenings.

Here is how you can check for power cuts in your area:

1. UK Power Networks' Live Power Cut Map

UK Power Networks provides a live power cut map that allows you to check current outages in real time. This is a great way to check for power cuts in your area as you get to know about the official words and insider information that may not be present anywhere else. For western power outages, look for the maps of the Western Power Distribution, which covers Wales & South West, East Midlands & West Midlands.

2. National Grid's Power Cut Information

The National Grid also maintains an online platform where you can enter your postcode and get real-time information about the National Grid power outage in your area. If your region is covered by the National Grid, you will be able to check for power cuts in your area through this platform. Otherwise, the platform will lead you to other platforms relevant to your area.

3. Local News and Government Websites

Local news outlets and government websites are also a reliable way to check for power cuts in your area, especially when this power outage is happening on a large scale.

Many local councils have dedicated sections for emergencies, including power outages, where you can find updates on both planned maintenance and unexpected outages. Checking these sites can provide you with area-specific insights.

4. Social Media and Community Forums

Social media platforms, particularly X, are commonly used by electricity providers to post real-time updates. You can type in “power outage in my area” and have real-time information. Following the social media pages of your local electricity network will allow you to check for power cuts in your area. Not to mention that these other impacted individuals also post queries on social media and forums about the power outages, which will also help you understand the status of electricity in your area.

How to Prepare for Power Cuts

Even a simple power outage can leave you off-guard, which means that you need to prepare yourself comprehensively well in advance to deal with these power outages.

Let’s see what are the steps you need to take to battle against the power outages:

- Emergency Supply Kit

Always keep an emergency supply kit ready for unpredictable power outages. This kit will help you avert trouble when an electricity outage strikes you. An emergency supply kit includes gadgets such as flashlights and torches to create enough lighting during an outage, backup batteries to power different portable appliances, and a first aid kit to deal with any unexpected injuries or health scare. Some other items to keep for emergencies include canned goods, dried fruit, energy bars, and other non-perishable food items.

- Backup Power Sources

Investing in a good-quality solar generator is the best decision you could make to deal with power outages. Solar generators help you power your essential household appliances during power outages so that you can pass through tough times with ease.

Choosing solar-powered generators over traditional fuel-powered generators comes with numerous benefits. For instance, solar generators do not rely on gas or any other fuel, which can become scarce during natural disasters when supply chains take a hit. A solar generator will also help you avoid recurring fuel costs needed to power traditional generators. Not to mention that solar generators do not produce any gaseous emissions or unnecessary noises like the traditional fuel-based generator.

Be Prepared with Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus

One of the most reliable solar generators to prepare for power outages is the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus. With Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus, you do not have to worry about power outages and check for power cuts in your area over and over again.

Let’s have a look at the top features of this generator that make it the best portable power choice during electricity outages.

Powerful and Reliable Performance

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is equipped with a 1260Wh LiFePO4 battery and a 2000W pure sine wave inverter. This combination delivers sufficient energy to keep most household appliances powered up during an extended outage. With the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus, you can run daily household appliances like a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, electric kettle, juicer, rice cooker, blower, laptop, TV, LED lights, fans, solar powered heaters, and an air conditioner.

Here is how long you can run all these appliances individually using this generator:

Fast Charging

You can recharge the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus in just 100 minutes from a standard wall outlet before a planned power cut or in 2 hours using 4 Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels during extended power outages.

Expandable Capacity

If you need more power, the capacity of this system can be expanded to 5kWh by adding up to 3 extra battery packs. This flexibility means that you can prepare yourself for power outages of multiple days.

Long Lifespan

This power generator has a long life, thanks to its LiFePO4 battery cells that make it last for more than ten years. With its 5-year warranty and robust build quality, Jackery ensures that this portable power station is a long-term investment.

Smart App

The smart app control feature of the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus allows you to monitor and manage the solar generator remotely. You can track the remaining battery life, check power usage, and even control charging options on your mobile device.

Multiple Outputs

This solar generator comes with multiple output ports, such as:

• 2 x AC Outputs: 2000W Rated, 4000W Surge Peak
• 2 x USB-A Outputs: 18W Max
• 2 x USB-C Outputs: 100W Max

Highly Portable

This Jackery small generator does not compromise on portability. The inbox Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station weighs only 14.5 kg (32 lbs) and is much lighter and more compact compared to traditional fuel-powered counterparts.

Wrapping-Up

Power cuts can disrupt daily life in unexpected ways, leaving you vulnerable to prolonged discomfort and inconvenience. That’s why you need proper resources to check for power cuts in your area so that you can stay alert to the latest happening.  While it is important to know how to check for power cuts in your area, another equally important thing is to prepare for power outages properly so that your life does not get disturbed when the electricity outage strikes you.

The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus allows you to run all the daily household appliances during power outages. Get your own Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus today and be well-prepared for power outages in your area.