In short: Northern Powergrid runs the local electricity network for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. To report a power cut or check when it will be back, call 105 free or use the power cut map and reporting tools on Northern Powergrid's own website. If you need extra help, join its priority services register; most power cut compensation is paid automatically.
Key facts
- Northern Powergrid's network serves about 3.9 million homes and businesses in the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. Source
- Call 105 for free in England, Wales and Scotland to report a power cut and get updates. Source
- In normal weather, you can get £100 (homes) if power is off for more than 12 hours when fewer than 5,000 properties are affected, or more than 24 hours when 5,000 or more are affected, plus £45 for each further 12 hours. Source
- Most power cut payments are made automatically; the multiple-interruptions payment is the one you have to claim. Source
- Network operators must offer extra help to people on the Priority Services Register, such as battery packs, but registration brings no extra compensation. Source
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If the lights have gone out in the North East, Yorkshire or northern Lincolnshire, the company to contact is Northern Powergrid, which runs the local electricity network there. This page gives you the quick answers: how to report it, where to find the live map, what to do while you wait, and what compensation you might get.
We are an independent guide, not Northern Powergrid. We don't have live outage information. For current updates and estimated restoration times, always use Northern Powergrid's own power cuts page or call 105.
Northern Powergrid power cut: quick answers
| What you need | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Report a power cut | Call 105 (free) or report online on Northern Powergrid's power cuts page |
| Live map | The power cut map on Northern Powergrid's website |
| Phone | 105 — free in England, Wales and Scotland (Be Ready) |
| Priority Services Register | Northern Powergrid priority services, via thepsr.co.uk |
| Areas covered | North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire — about 3.9 million homes and businesses (Northern Powergrid statement, via Ofgem) |
Not sure who your network operator is? Our power cuts by network operator hub explains how to check.
Who is Northern Powergrid?
Northern Powergrid is the distribution network operator (DNO) for its region. It owns and fixes the cables, poles and substations that bring electricity to your home. It is not your energy supplier — the company that sends your bill. For a power cut, you contact Northern Powergrid. Ofgem says to contact your supplier only if the problem is a faulty meter.
What to do now: power cut checklist
Work through these in order:
- Check it's not just you. The Met Office suggests checking whether your neighbours have power. If they do, the problem may be your fuses or trip switch — check your consumer unit.
- Report it. Call 105 or report online, even if you think others already have.
- Check the live map on Northern Powergrid's website for updates.
- Stay away from fallen or damaged power lines. Be Ready guidance says to keep clear of them and report them.
- Switch off irons, ovens, electric fires and fryers, and unplug your TV and computer (Be Ready).
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. For what to keep or throw away afterwards, follow the Food Standards Agency's power cut advice.
- Keep warm with layers and blankets.
- Check on neighbours, especially older or vulnerable people.
- Save your phone battery for updates and calls. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999.
Keeping a torch, a battery or wind-up radio and your key contacts in one place makes this much easier. Our power cuts guide covers what to have ready.
How long will a Northern Powergrid power cut last?
There's no single answer — it depends on the cause and the weather. Northern Powergrid's live map is the best place to see an estimated restoration time for your area. We explain typical durations, planned cuts and how to cope with longer outages in our main power cuts guide.
If your home relies on electricity for medical equipment, Be Ready and the Met Office advise having a plan agreed with your care provider or equipment supplier in advance, and joining the Priority Services Register.
Can I get extra help in a power cut?
Yes, if you qualify. Northern Powergrid keeps a priority services register for customers who need extra support. The Met Office describes the PSR as free and open to people who are older, disabled, or rely on electricity for medical or mobility equipment. You can sign up through the national PSR site, which says your details can be shared with your gas and water providers so you only register once.
Ofgem says network operators must offer extra help to people on the register, such as battery packs for phones or medical equipment. Being on the register does not bring extra compensation. Read our full Priority Services Register guide.
Northern Powergrid power cut compensation
Northern Powergrid follows the same guaranteed standards as every network operator in Great Britain, set by Ofgem. The 2026 figures for homes are:
| Situation | Payment to homes |
|---|---|
| Normal weather, power off over 12 hours (fewer than 5,000 properties affected) | £100, plus £45 per extra 12 hours |
| Normal weather, power off over 24 hours (5,000 or more affected) | £100, plus £45 per extra 12 hours, up to £400 |
| Storm category 1, power off over 24 hours | £90, plus £45 per extra 6 hours, up to £2,235 |
| Storm category 2, power off over 48 hours | £90, plus £45 per extra 6 hours, up to £2,235 |
Ofgem says most payments are automatic. You only need to claim the payment for repeated interruptions. Ofgem also says you won't be paid for damage to electrical equipment or appliances. For the full rules, time limits and what to do if you're not paid, see our power cut compensation guide.
Limitations
This page is general information, not professional advice, and we are not connected to Northern Powergrid. Always follow instructions from Northern Powergrid and the emergency services, and call 999 in an emergency. The 105 number and the compensation rules above apply in England, Scotland and Wales; Northern Ireland has a different operator and different rules.
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Frequently asked questions
What number do I call for a Northern Powergrid power cut?
Call 105. GOV.UK's Be Ready guidance says 105 is free in England, Wales and Scotland and puts you through to your local network operator.
Where is the Northern Powergrid power cut map?
The live map is on Northern Powergrid's own website. We're an independent guide and don't show live outage data, so always check the operator's map for current information.
Is it Northern Powergrid or my energy supplier I should contact?
For a power cut, contact Northern Powergrid (the network operator) by calling 105 or reporting online. Ofgem says to contact your energy supplier if the problem is a faulty meter.
Will I get compensation from Northern Powergrid?
Possibly. Under Ofgem's guaranteed standards, homes get £100 if power is off for more than 12 hours in normal weather (24 hours if 5,000 or more properties are affected), and most payments are automatic. Severe weather uses different rules.
How do I join Northern Powergrid's priority services register?
Use the sign-up link for Northern Powergrid on the national Priority Services Register site, thepsr.co.uk. Your details can then be shared with your gas and water providers.
Sources
- Ofgem — Check if you can get a payment for a power cut
- Be Ready (GOV.UK) — Power cuts
- Northern Powergrid — Distribution Flexibility Services Procurement Statement 2022-23 (hosted by Ofgem)
- The Priority Services Register (thepsr.co.uk)
- Met Office — What to do in a power cut
- Ofgem — Guaranteed Standards of Performance payment update 2026