Behaviour to adopt

When a (lengthy) power cut is planned in advance:

• unplug domestic electronic devices to avoid an electrical overload when the current is reconnected;
• charge your mobile phone, even though both mobile and landline networks may be subject to disturbances;
• keep an emergency kit to hand including
• a battery-operated radio, torch and candles, medication;
• keep supplies of cold food and thermos flasks of hot water;
• warn your friends, family and vulnerable neighbours and encourage them to take the same precautions;
• if necessary, have a power generator installed by a professional to reduce the risk of a short-circuit.

Listen to a battery-operated, wind-up or car radio in order to keep up to date with the authorities' recommendations.

Keep a switch in the on position so you know when the power is reconnected.

In the event of danger or an emergency, call 112.

During a power cut:

• use torches rather than candles;
• if using candles : 
  • place them on appropriate stands that are inflammable/fireproof/non-combustible such as candle sticks or candle holders;
  • keep them out of the reach of children;
  • never leave them unattended;
  • extinguish them before leaving a room and going to sleep;
• when using wood-fired, coal, gas or oil heating, keep the room ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning;
• only open fridge or freezer doors when absolutely necessary (by keeping the doors closed a full freezer can keep food frozen for between 24 and 36 hours);
• avoid making phone calls unless absolutely necessary and send text messages instead;
• close doors, windows and curtains in order to retain heat in your home or maintain the internal temperature;
• if the water supply is still functioning make sure you set aside water provisions. Remember to be responsible and ration any water;
• unless advised to do otherwise by the authorities, leave a trickle of water running and flush the toilets from time to time to prevent the pipes from freezing;
• never use heating or lighting equipment or wood-burning stoves inside your home that were designed for outside use or camping (charcoal or propane barbecues, camping stoves or propane wood-burning stoves) as they produce carbon monoxide, a colourless and odourless gas which can cause health problems and even death;
• equip the house with battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors;
• limit your trips outside, in particular car journeys as traffic lights may not be functioning;
• in order to avoid damage caused by an electricity surge when the power is switched back on
  • unplug all sensitive domestic electronic devices such as televisions, computers, microwaves, DVD players, fridges and freezers;
  • turn the boiler thermostat down to minimum;

Listen to a battery-operated, wind-up or car radio in order to keep up to date with the authorities' recommendations.

Keep a switch in the on position so you know when the power is reconnected.

In the event of danger or an emergency, call 112.

Following a power cut:

• to avoid a power surge, give the electricity system time to stabilise;
  • increase the thermostat(s) for the heating system,
  • do not turn on all your electronic appliances at the same time
  • start with the ones you most need such as fridges and freezers;
  • and wait 10 to 15 minutes before plugging in other devices;
• before restoring power, ensure the water heater is full;
• turn on the water supply and the taps to allow air to escape : 
  • turn off taps on the ground floor of your home to enable air to escape from the upper taps;
• do not turn the gas on yourself, and if you are in doubt, call a specialist.

Check the state of food in refrigerators and freezers. If in doubt, throw food away.

In the event of danger or an emergency, call 112.

Keep in touch with your friends and family and vulnerable neighbours.

If your house floods during a power cut:

• do not enter the flooded basement or cellar unless you are sure that the current is switched off;
• before using appliances, check circuit breakers, fuse boxes, sockets and distribution panels and, if necessary, get them cleaned by an electrician.

In winter, power cuts can pose great difficulties, and even endanger health and safety. The authorities can order an evacuation during the winter months if temperatures drop so low that homes become uninhabitable due to the cold. In such a case, you must think about your plumbing which can sustain heavy damage when temperatures drop very low.

In an evacuation:

• shut off the main circuit breaker or the switch on the power supply box;
• turn off the water supply tap;
• protect the tap(s), feed pipe and the meter or pump using blankets, cloths or isolating materials;
• empty the piping from the top of the house to the bottom:
• turn on all the taps and flush the toilets several times;
• empty the water heater by attaching a pipe to the drainage tap so that water can flow into the basement floor drain;
• turn off and empty the washing machine pipes.

Listen to a battery-operated, wind-up or car radio in order to keep up to date with the authorities' recommendations.

In the event of a power cut you should avoid opening fridge and freezer doors as much as possible to retain the low temperature inside for as long as possible.

Depending on the duration of the power cut, this advice should be followed:

• if the cut lasts less than 4 hours:
  • food remains safe to eat;
• if the cut lasts longer than 4 hours:
  • a full freezer preserves food for up to 36 hours;
  • a half-full freezer preserves food for up to 24 hours;

Listen to a battery-operated, wind-up or car radio in order to keep up to date with the authorities' recommendations.

Always dispose of perishable items

• which have been exposed to temperatures above 4°C for over 2 hours;
• which show signs of deterioration (signs of mould or bad odours).

Never refreeze defrosted food.

Partially defrosted food which shows signs of ice on the surface of the packaging can be put back in the freezer.

Never refreeze defrosted food!

If in doubt, throw it away.

In the event of an power cut, the water purification system may not function properly. Electricity is needed to produce drinking water and then pump it to reservoirs and water towers.

Listen to a battery-operated, wind-up or car radio in order to keep up to date with the authorities' recommendations.