Who to call in an electrical emergency: an electrician, 105 or 999?

In an electrical emergency, call 999 if there's a fire or someone has been hurt, 105 for a power cut or damage to the network (such as fallen power lines or a damaged meter or main fuse), and an electrician for a fault inside your property, such as burning smells, sparking or a circuit that won't stay on. If you're not sure, deal with any danger to people first.

Call 999

• A fire, or smoke you can't trace. Get everyone out and stay out.
• Someone has had an electric shock and is hurt, unconscious or still in contact with the electricity. Don't touch them until the power is off.
• Fallen power lines that are sparking or near people or traffic.

Call 105

105 is the free national power cut number in England, Scotland and Wales. It puts you through to your local network operator, which for London, the East and the South East is UK Power Networks. Call them for:

• A power cut affecting your street or area.
• Damage to the supply: the main fuse (the sealed unit before your meter), the cable coming into your home, or a damaged substation.
• Fallen or low power lines. Stay well away, at least 10 metres, and keep others away.

An electrician isn't allowed to work on the network operator's equipment, including the main fuse, so 105 is the right call for these.

Call an electrician

Anything after your meter is your responsibility, and that's where we come in:

• Burning smells, scorch marks or sparking from sockets, switches or the fuse board.
• A circuit or RCD that trips and won't reset.
• No power in your home when your neighbours have theirs and your main switch is on.
• Water getting into lights, sockets or the fuse board.
• A shock from an appliance, tap or switch, once anyone hurt has been looked after.

Our emergency line is 07973 781349. Our guide to what counts as an electrical emergency helps if you're not sure it needs someone now.

If you have no power: keeping the essentials going

• Check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives. UK Power Networks keeps a free Priority Services Register for people who rely on power for medical equipment or need extra help in a power cut.
• Keep fridges and freezers shut. Food stays cold for several hours if the doors stay closed.
• Use torches, not candles. Keep a charged power bank for phones.
• Turn off appliances that were running when the power went, so they don't all start at once when it comes back.
• Never run a generator indoors or plug one into your house wiring unless an electrician has fitted a proper changeover switch.