In short: In a power cut, a battery or wind-up radio tuned to your BBC local radio station is a simple way to hear local updates. GOV.UK Be Ready says to keep one at home and to write your local station's frequency on paper. The BBC's reception pages help you find your station and check your transmitter.
Key facts
- GOV.UK Be Ready says to keep a battery or wind-up radio (and spare batteries) at home, because radio can carry updates when TV and internet are down. Source
- Be Ready says to try FM and digital modes to find stations still broadcasting, and to write down the frequencies of your local and national stations on paper. Source
- The BBC says BBC Local Radio medium wave services in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Somerset will close by the end of November 2026, and that the same local stations carry on through FM, DAB, BBC Sounds, the BBC website and smart speakers. Source
- The BBC says its local and national radio services are carried on local commercial DAB multiplexes, so you may not receive them on DAB if there is no commercial DAB service in your area. Source
- In storms, the BBC says transmitters can be disrupted by faults caused by the weather or by the electricity supply that feeds them, and advises not to retune during a storm. Source
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When the power goes off, the TV and broadband router go with it, and phones need saving for calls. A battery or wind-up radio fills the gap. GOV.UK Be Ready says to keep one at home, because radio can carry updates when TV and the internet are down. The question is which station, and where it sits on the dial. This page shows how to find out on a calm day, using the BBC's reception advice pages. It is part of our power cuts hub.
Why BBC local radio
Your BBC local or nations station (such as BBC Radio Scotland) makes programmes for your area. In a wide power cut or a storm, local detail is often what you want to know. A national station is a useful second choice.
Step 1: find your station's FM frequency
We don't list frequencies here, because one station can use several, and they depend on where you live. Instead:
- Find your station's page on the BBC website. Search for "BBC Radio" and your county or nation.
- Use the BBC's transmitter checker. You enter your address and it finds your local transmitters.
- Tune your battery radio. The BBC's retuning guide says FM radios have a Scan or Auto-Tune button that stores stations automatically, or you can turn the dial to a frequency.
- Write the number down on paper. Be Ready says to write down the frequencies of your local and national stations. Tape it to the radio.
If you live in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk or Somerset, the BBC's medium wave changes page lists the FM frequencies for your area. The BBC also gives a phone line for this information: 03700 100700.
FM, DAB or medium wave?
- FM works on most radios, including cheap battery and wind-up models. The BBC says it offers better coverage across the UK than medium wave.
- DAB gives more stations. But the BBC says its local and nations stations are carried on local commercial DAB multiplexes, so in some areas you may not get your BBC local station on DAB. Be Ready suggests trying both FM and digital.
- Medium wave is closing. The BBC says BBC Local Radio medium wave in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Somerset will close by the end of November 2026, the final phase of a switch-off announced in 2011. The same stations carry on through FM, DAB, BBC Sounds and online.
In a storm
The BBC says storms can interrupt transmitters, either through weather damage or a fault in the power supply that feeds them, and that the transmitter operator will be working to restore services. Its advice: don't retune during a storm, because you could lose stations. Check the transmitter checker if you have mobile data, or try another station you wrote down.
A five-minute radio check
- A battery or wind-up radio at home, with spare batteries
- Your BBC local station found and stored on FM
- The FM frequency written on paper and taped to the radio
- A second station noted, such as a national one
- Radio kept with your torch and power cut kit
Our wind-up radio guide explains what to look for when choosing one.
Limitations
This page points to BBC and GOV.UK advice and does not list frequencies, which vary by area and can change. Always check the BBC's own pages for your station. Radio is one source of updates; follow instructions from the emergency services and your local council.
Turn this guide into a written plan
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Frequently asked questions
What radio station should I listen to in a power cut?
Your BBC local or nations radio station is a good place to start for updates about your area. Find its FM frequency on a calm day and write it down, as GOV.UK Be Ready suggests.
How do I find my BBC local radio FM frequency?
Use the BBC's reception advice pages and transmitter checker, or your station's own BBC web page. Then tune your battery radio to it and write the number on paper.
Is BBC local radio still on medium wave?
In many areas, no. The BBC says the last BBC Local Radio medium wave services, in Cumbria, Derby, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Somerset, will close by the end of November 2026. The same stations stay on FM and DAB.
Sources
- GOV.UK Be Ready: Power cuts (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- BBC Reception Advice: BBC Local Radio medium wave transmission changes (28 Sep 2026; checked 30 Oct 2026)
- BBC Reception Advice: How to retune your radio and keep listening after MW closures (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- BBC Reception Advice: Check transmitter faults (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- BBC Reception Advice: Storm interruptions to TV and radio (22 Oct 2026; checked 30 Oct 2026)
- BBC Reception Advice: home page and DAB FAQs (checked 30 Oct 2026)