NICEIC research reveals UK public is unprepared for power cuts as storm season hits
Posted by: electime 12th December 2025
Almost one in eight UK homes have no backup power essentials in an electrical blackout- Less than one in five people would prioritise unplugging electrical appliances in a power cut
- Over a third of Brits would rely on candles for light despite fire risk
New research from NICEIC has revealed almost one in eight UK homes have no backup power essentials in the event of a power outage, and many people either haven’t considered or are not prioritising measures that could mitigate the impacts of an electrical blackout.
The findings come following the release of the UK Government’s Resilience Action Plan in July, encouraging the public to be prepared for “volatile, varied and interconnected” risks, such as “natural hazards, deliberate attacks, geopolitical instability, disease outbreaks, and other disruptive events, civil emergencies or threats to our way of life”. This includes recommended emergency supplies, including backup power equipment.
The impact of increasingly severe weather often leaves thousands without power for days, as experienced recently during Storm Amy and Storm Bram.
NICEIC’s survey of 2,000 UK adults also found 45 per cent of people don’t own the most basic of backup equipment – a torch. Nearly three quarters (74 per cent) do not have a battery-powered or windup radio and 57 per cent of people don’t have a power bank to charge electronic devices for communication.
Safety is key during a widespread power outage. One in five listed ‘feeling vulnerable and unsafe’ among their top three concerns, with young people (aged 16-24 years old) the most likely to be concerned for their safety (24 per cent ), compared to only 16 per cent of those aged 55+. 20 per cent of young people also worry about the risk of fire or electric shock.
Despite this, over one third of respondents said lighting candles would be one of their top three actions during a power cut, increasing fire risks particularly if candles are lit in unattended rooms.
The research also found the public is not as concerned about their electrical appliances in a power cut as they should be. During thunderstorms, power surges pose a serious risk to electrical appliances. If lightning strikes nearby or hits your home, power lines and your electrical installation can experience a sudden, severe surge of electricity. Any connected devices may burn out, as they’re not designed to withstand such extreme currents.
82 per cent of respondents did not list ‘damage to home electrics and appliances’ as a top three concern in a power cut. Less than 20 per cent would unplug large appliances as a priority in a blackout, while only 18 per cent would do so for small appliances.
Instead, the public’s main concern is the food in their fridge/freezer going off (54 per cent), followed by loss of heating and hot water (34 per cent). 43 per cent would prioritise first checking to see if their neighbour had lost their power too and 42 per cent would first report the power outage to their electricity provider.
