Power cut plan builder for your home
Create a printable checklist to keep by the phone. Covers what to do when the power goes off, how to keep a way to call for help, and what backup to consider.
Takes about 2 minutes. No sign-in required.
What you'll need
- To know roughly where your landline phone plugs in (router or wall socket), if you have one
- To know whether mobile signal works at the address
- If you are not sure about anything, that is fine. The plan builder accounts for uncertainty.
If you're helping someone else
You can build a plan on behalf of someone else, then print it and give it to them.
Why power cuts matter more now
On the old analogue phone network, a corded phone worked in a power cut because the line carried its own power. Digital landlines are different. Your calls go through the broadband router, and the router needs mains electricity. When the power goes off, the router shuts down and the phone stops working.
This matters most if you depend on the landline for safety, for example if you have a telecare pendant, poor mobile signal, or medical equipment that dials out over the phone line. Under Ofcom rules, your phone provider must offer at least one hour of backup for emergency calling, but many people will want longer coverage or a fallback plan.
The plan builder asks five questions about your setup and produces a printable checklist covering what to do when the power goes off, how to keep a way to call for help, and whether you need battery backup for the router.
How it works
Five questions, then a printable checklist tailored to your setup. The plan covers what to do when the power goes off, how to keep a way to call for help, and optional backup steps.
Digital phone lines (where calls go through your broadband router) may not work in a power cut unless there is backup power for the router and any fibre box. This plan helps you prepare for that.