Householders to prepare for possible power cuts as Storm Dave to hit this weekend

The UK Met Office has announced severe weather warnings as Storm Dave is due to hit Northern Ireland over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Storm Dave is expected to bring strong wind and rain across the UK and Ireland, potentially causing significant damage and disruption with The Met Office also recommending preparing for possible power cuts – as Storm Chandra left thousands without power.

Paul Collins, Technical Director of NICEIC – the UK's leading certification body for the electrical industry offers his expert guidance:

In the event of a power cut 

It can be hard to predict the damage caused by a storm, and power cuts happen without warning. If you’ve lost power, check the power cut is not localised to your house only by looking at your consumer unit (fuse board) for any switches that might be down or off. Reset these switches accordingly.

Alert your electricity provider

Always alert your electricity provider as soon as you experience a power cut in your area. The sooner an engineer is sent out to investigate the cause, the sooner you’ll have your power restored. Call 105 to report the incident - a free, nationwide number that can connect you to your local electricity provider.

Unplug / switch off appliances

If your power has gone out, unplug all your smaller appliances and electrical equipment. Additionally, switch off larger appliances, such as electric showers using the switches. Doing so will prevent any electrical surge damage that may occur when the electricity is eventually restored. Minimise opening your fridge and freezer and consider filling flasks with hot water for food and drink preparation.

Storm essentials

Avoid using candles for light and always have a fully charged torch stored somewhere easily accessible. Keep your phone battery for communication not lighting.

Your consumer unit

If you are familiar with your consumer unit, and your electricity is not restored after the outage is reported to be fixed, you may be able to reset it. However, if you suspect there is a wider electrical issue, do not attempt to resolve it yourself, always contact a NICEIC-registered electrician to assess any electrical issues. Householders can use the NICEIC Find a Trusted Tradesperson tool to find a registered electrician in their area.