In short: NIE Networks runs the electricity network in Northern Ireland. To report a power cut, call 03457 643 643, report online or by WhatsApp, and check the Powercheck map for updates — 105 is for England, Scotland and Wales. If power isn't back within 24 hours, homes can claim £50 plus £25 for every further 12 hours, but you must claim within one month, and severe weather exemptions can apply.
Key facts
- In Northern Ireland, report power cuts to NIE Networks on 03457 643 643; 105 is free in England, Wales and Scotland. Source
- NIE Networks' Powercheck service shows regular updates on power cuts in your area. Source
- If NIE Networks doesn't restore power within 24 hours, homes are due £50 (businesses £125), then £25 for every further 12 hours; you must claim within 1 month. Source
- No guaranteed standard payments are due when the severe weather exemption applies, for example when high-voltage faults exceed 13 times normal levels. Source
- NIE Networks says it cannot pay for freezer contents and advises contacting your home insurer. Source
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In Northern Ireland, the electricity network is run by NIE Networks, so it is the company to contact when your power goes off. The rules here are different from England, Scotland and Wales: there's a different phone number, a different live map and different compensation rules. This page sets them out simply.
We are an independent guide, not NIE Networks. We don't show live outage information. For current faults and estimated restoration times, use NIE Networks' Powercheck map or call 03457 643 643.
NIE power cut: quick answers
| What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Report a power cut | Call 03457 643 643, report online on the NIE Networks power cuts page, or use WhatsApp or Facebook (NIE Networks) |
| Live map | Powercheck — regular updates on power cuts in your area |
| Phone | 03457 643 643 (Customer Helpline) — also for dangerous situations like broken lines or damaged poles |
| Priority register | NIE Networks' Customer Care Register; see also NI Direct care registers |
| Areas covered | All of Northern Ireland — around 966,000 connected properties (NIE Networks) |
Does 105 work in Northern Ireland?
Use the NIE number instead. GOV.UK's Be Ready guidance says you can call 105 free in England, Wales and Scotland, and gives 03457 643 643 for reporting power cuts in Northern Ireland. Save it in your phone and write it on your emergency contacts list.
When you report, NIE Networks suggests having your MPRN (the number on your electricity bill), or your postcode and house number, ready.
What to do now: power cut checklist
Based on NIE Networks' advice and Be Ready:
- Check your trip switch, and whether neighbours or street lights are off too.
- Check Powercheck, then report the cut if it isn't listed.
- Never touch damaged electricity equipment. Report it on 03457 643 643.
- Turn off electric cookers, heaters and sensitive equipment such as TVs and computers.
- Leave one light on so you know when power is back.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed. NIE says a fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours with the door shut, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours (about 24 hours if half full).
- Keep warm with layers and blankets.
- Check on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours.
- If using a generator, NIE says to site it carefully, with plenty of airflow, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- In a life-threatening emergency, call 999.
A torch, spare batteries and a battery or wind-up radio are worth keeping together. Our power cuts guide covers what to have ready.
How long will an NIE power cut last?
It depends on the cause and the weather. NIE Networks says it will give the most accurate restoration estimate it has, and you can follow progress on Powercheck. In severe weather, it says it prioritises critical national infrastructure first, then restoring the largest numbers of homes and businesses, then customers on its medical care register. See our power cuts guide for coping with a longer cut.
Extra help: the Customer Care Register
Northern Ireland has Customer Care Registers rather than the Priority Services Register used in Great Britain. NIE Networks' Customer Care Register is for people who rely on electricity for healthcare needs, such as specialised mattresses, feeding systems or lifting equipment. You can join online, through WhatsApp or Facebook Live Chat, on the Customer Helpline, or by post — and the same form can register you with NI Water. NIE says registered customers get a priority crew response and the most accurate restoration information it has — but it also says it will not provide a generator during severe weather, so a backup plan for medical equipment is still essential. Read more in our Priority Services Register guide.
NIE power cut compensation
NIE Networks' guaranteed standards set the payments. The main ones for households:
| Standard | If NIE misses it |
|---|---|
| Restore power within 24 hours of a power cut | £50 for a home (£125 business), then £25 for every further 12 hours — claim within 1 month |
| At least 3 days' notice of a planned interruption | £25 for a home (£50 business) — claim within 1 month |
| Send your payment cheque within 10 working days of a failed guarantee | £25 |
Important points:
- You have to claim. Use the form on NIE's Making a claim page, giving roughly when the power went off and came back.
- Severe weather exemptions. NIE says that when high-voltage faults exceed 13 times normal levels, no guaranteed standard payments are due. Other exemptions include NIE being unable to access the property.
- Food and other losses aren't covered. NIE says it can't pay for freezer contents and to contact your home insurer.
Changes on the way
The Utility Regulator published decisions in July 2026 to update these standards, including higher payments and a longer three-month claim window for supply restoration. These aren't in force yet: the new regulations still need Department for the Economy consent and to be laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly. Until then, the current NIE standards above apply. Our power cut compensation guide compares NI with Great Britain.
Limitations
This page is general information, not professional advice, and we are not connected to NIE Networks. Follow instructions from NIE Networks and the emergency services, and call 999 in an emergency. These arrangements apply to Northern Ireland only; England, Scotland and Wales use 105 and Ofgem's rules.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the NIE power cut number?
Call the NIE Networks Customer Helpline on 03457 643 643. NIE says the same number is used for dangerous situations such as broken lines or damaged poles.
Does 105 work in Northern Ireland?
GOV.UK's Be Ready guidance lists 105 as free in England, Wales and Scotland, and gives 03457 643 643 for Northern Ireland. Use the NIE number.
Where is the NIE power cut map?
NIE Networks' live map is called Powercheck, at powercheck.nienetworks.co.uk. We're an independent guide and don't show live data.
How do I claim compensation from NIE Networks?
Complete the claim form on NIE Networks' Making a claim page, with the approximate time your power went off and came back. NIE says claims for the 24-hour standard must be made within 1 month.
Why didn't I get compensation after a storm?
NIE Networks says that in severe weather, such as when high-voltage faults exceed 13 times normal levels, an exemption can apply and no guaranteed standard payments are due.
Is there a Priority Services Register in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland uses Customer Care Registers instead. NIE Networks runs a Customer Care Register for people who rely on electricity for healthcare needs, and its form can also register you with NI Water.
Sources
- NIE Networks — Power cuts
- NIE Networks — Power cut help and advice
- NIE Networks — FAQs: unplanned power cuts
- NIE Networks — Customer standards
- NIE Networks — Customer Care Register
- NIE Networks — Making a claim
- Utility Regulator — Review of the Electricity GSS and OSP: Decision Paper (non-metering), July 2026
- Be Ready (GOV.UK) — Power cuts