How to get power cut compensation

Introduction

Losing your electricity supply is always frustrating, and for some households, it can be a serious risk. If your home is left in the dark for a long time, you might be owed power cut compensation. The rules around these payments are strict, and the amount you get depends on how long the power was off, what caused the outage, and how many other homes were affected.

Recent updates to the rules in 2026 mean that compensation amounts have increased to keep up with inflation, and new protections have been added for smart meter faults. However, claiming this money is not always automatic. You need to know who to contact, how the time limits work, and when you are expected to make a manual claim.

This guide explains exactly how power cut compensation works in Great Britain, how much you could receive, and the practical steps you need to take to get the money you are owed.

What to do first when the power goes out

Before you think about compensation, you need to work out whether the problem is in your home's electrical installation or is a wider network issue. An appliance or wiring fault in your home will not normally qualify for network compensation and may need an electrician. If you suspect a faulty energy meter, contact your energy supplier, as separate compensation rules may apply.^[1]

Understanding who pays your compensation

One of the most common mistakes people make is asking their energy supplier for power cut compensation. Your energy supplier is the company you pay your monthly bills to, such as British Gas, OVO Energy, or E.On Next. They buy the energy and sell it to you, but they do not manage the physical cables and wires in your street.

The regulator, Ofgem, sets strict rules called Guaranteed Standards of Performance. These rules legally force the DNO to pay you if they fail to restore your power within a set time.

Because your DNO does not have access to your energy account or your billing details, they cannot simply add a credit to your monthly energy bill. Instead, they will usually pay your compensation directly into your bank account or send you a cheque in the post. The only time your energy supplier pays you compensation for a loss of power is if the problem was caused specifically by a faulty meter in your home.

Compensation for normal weather power cuts

If your power goes off during normal weather conditions, the amount of compensation you get depends on how long the outage lasts and how many homes are affected. The base rates for these payments were increased in April 2026 to match inflation.

Where 5,000 or more premises are interrupted, these extra payments are capped at £400 for a single normal-weather power cut. There is no statutory cap for normal-weather outages affecting fewer than 5,000 premises.

Sometimes, you might experience several short power cuts rather than one long one. If your home is cut off four or more times in a single regulatory year (which runs from 1 April to 31 March), and each cut lasts for at least three hours, you can claim an extra payment of around £95 to £100. A single three-hour power cut on its own does not qualify for any money.

Claiming after a storm or severe weather

When severe weather damages the power network, the rules change. Storms can bring down trees and damage power lines across a huge area, making it much harder for engineers to fix the faults quickly. Following major reviews into recent storms, Ofgem increased the compensation limits to offer better support to households left without power for days.

The regulator splits severe weather into two categories based on how badly the electricity network is hit within a 24-hour period. It is important to know that these categories are set by Ofgem based on network damage, not by the Met Office. A Red Weather Warning from the Met Office does not automatically mean you will get severe weather compensation.

Once those initial time limits pass, the compensation builds up much faster than it does in normal weather. You will receive an extra payment for every six hours the power remains off, rather than every 12 hours. Because severe storms can leave homes without power for a very long time, the maximum amount you can claim is much higher.

New compensation rules for smart meters

While network power cuts are handled by the distribution network operator, issues with your actual gas or electricity meter are handled by your energy supplier. In February 2026, Ofgem introduced new rules to penalise suppliers who fail to maintain smart meters properly.

Under these new Guaranteed Standards of Performance, your supplier must pay you an automatic £40 compensation if they fail to meet specific deadlines. They must pay this money within 10 working days of the failure.

This rule is designed to ensure that suppliers keep smart meters working in smart mode, rather than leaving customers to rely on estimated bills or manual readings when the technology fails. If the supplier misses the 10-working-day deadline to pay the initial £40, they may owe you a further payment for the delay.

What happens if a power cut is planned?

Sometimes, the network operator needs to turn the power off on purpose so they can safely upgrade the local cables or carry out essential maintenance. When this happens, it is known as a planned power cut.

Because the network operator knows about the outage in advance, they must warn you so you can prepare. For electricity supplies, the operator must give you at least two days' notice before they turn the power off. If your gas supply needs to be shut off for planned maintenance, the gas network operator must give you at least seven days' notice.

If an electricity network operator fails to give the required notice, or interrupts supply on a different day, domestic customers are entitled to £40 and business customers £80. If a gas network operator gives less than seven days' notice, domestic customers can receive £50 and businesses £120. Contact the relevant network operator if you think you are owed a payment.

How to claim your power cut compensation

The way you get your money depends on what caused the power cut and how long it lasted. In many cases, especially after severe weather or major storms, the network operator will issue your compensation automatically. They will track which postcodes were cut off and send a cheque or arrange a bank transfer without you needing to ask.

However, if you think you are owed money and nothing has arrived, you must make a manual claim. You should go to your local network operator's website and look for their compensation claim form, or call their customer service team.

You must stick to the strict time limits for claiming. If the network operator has not identified you, it may need to receive a claim within three months of your supply being restored for restoration-compensation cases. For a multiple-interruptions claim, the deadline is three months after the relevant regulatory year ends. It is always best to submit your details as soon as possible.

When you will not get compensation

There are several situations where you cannot claim any money, even if your power is off for a long time. The rules are designed to protect you from network failures, not from issues that are out of the network operator's control.

Extra help for vulnerable households

If you are elderly, disabled, living with a long-term medical condition, or rely on electricity for medical equipment, a power cut can be dangerous. To get extra help, you should sign up for the Priority Services Register (PSR). This is a free support scheme run by energy suppliers and network operators across Great Britain.

Being on the PSR does not change the amount of compensation you receive. It can help you get priority support and communications during an outage, but the support available varies by network operator.