Power Cut in Inverclyde or Ayrshire? How to Tell If It’s Your Fuse Board or the Network
When the lights go out, the first question is simple: is it a power cut, or is it your house?
The answer decides who you call. DTEC Electrical, based in Largs and led by David Thomson with over 30 years in the trade, explains how to check in under a minute, who to contact and how to get your power back safely.
Step 1: Check your neighbours and the street
Look out of the window.
Street lights and neighbours’ homes are dark too? It’s almost certainly a power cut on the network. Go to Step 2.
Only your home is off? The problem is probably inside your home. Go to Step 3.
Step 2: It’s a power cut, so call 105
105 is the free power cut number across Great Britain. It puts you straight through to the company that runs the local electricity network:
Inverclyde and North Ayrshire (Greenock, Gourock, Port Glasgow, Largs, Saltcoats, Ardrossan and nearby): SP Energy Networks
Dunoon and Cowal: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)
They can tell you if they already know about the fault and when power should return. Network faults, and the main fuse beside your meter, are their job, not an electrician’s.
⚠️ If you see fallen power lines, stay well away and call 105, or 999 if anyone is in danger.
Step 3: Only your home is off, so check your fuse board
Find your fuse board (consumer unit). It’s often under the stairs, in a hall cupboard or by the front door.
Look for any switch in the down (off) position. That’s usually an RCD or a circuit breaker that has tripped.
Unplug or switch off appliances on that circuit.
Push the switch back up once.
If it stays on, turn things back on one at a time to find the faulty appliance.
If it trips again straight away, leave it off. There’s a fault that needs tracing.
Call DTEC Electrical on 07882 372474.
If nothing has tripped but you still have no power, the main fuse may have blown. Don’t touch the meter or the sealed fuse beside it. Call 105.
What to do during a power cut
Use torches, not candles. Most house fires during power cuts start with candles.
Unplug sensitive electronics: TVs, computers and games consoles.
Leave one light switched on, so you know when power returns.
Keep fridge and freezer doors shut.
Check on older or vulnerable neighbours.
Keep your phone charged before winter storms, and save 105 in your contacts.
When the power comes back
Switch appliances back on gradually, not all at once. If a circuit trips when the power returns, follow Step 3. A storm or surge can sometimes damage an appliance or reveal an existing fault.
Coastal storms and older homes
Homes along the Clyde coast face strong winds, salt air and heavy rain. Outdoor sockets, lights and older wiring are more likely to trip in a storm. If your power trips every time it rains, it’s a sign of damp getting into an outdoor fitting or old wiring, and it’s worth having it tested before winter.
Power cut FAQs
Who do I call in a power cut in Inverclyde or Ayrshire?
Call 105, the free power cut number, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. It puts you through to your network operator, which is SP Energy Networks across Inverclyde and North Ayrshire. They fix faults on the network and the main fuse. If only your home is off and the board has tripped, call us.
How do I know if it is a power cut or my fuse board?
Look out of the window first, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. If street lights and neighbours are off too, it is a power cut, so call 105. If only your home is dark, check your fuse board. A switch in the down position means a fault in your home, not the network.
Why will my trip switch not reset after a power cut?
A fault on one circuit or appliance is the usual cause, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. Switch off and unplug everything, reset the main switch, then turn circuits back on one at a time. If one keeps tripping, leave it off and call us on 07882 372474 to trace the fault.
How long does food last in a fridge during a power cut?
Food in a closed fridge usually stays cold for about four hours, and a full freezer for about two days, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. Keep the doors shut as much as you can. If the cut lasts longer, check the food before you eat it and throw out anything that has warmed up.
What is the Priority Services Register?
It is a free list that gives extra help in a power cut, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. You can join if you are older, disabled, have young children or rely on medical equipment. You get early warnings of planned cuts and priority support. Sign up with your energy supplier or network operator.
Can a power cut damage my appliances?
It can, as a surge when the power comes back can harm TVs, computers and boilers, says DTEC Electrical in Greenock and Largs. Unplug sensitive items during a cut and switch them on one by one after. A surge protection device in your fuse board adds protection, and we can fit one when we test your board.
Power still off, or trip switch won’t reset?
Call DTEC Electrical on 07882 372474. We cover Greenock, Largs and across Inverclyde and North Ayrshire, 24/7 and subject to availability.
See our 24/7 emergency electrician page.
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