If you are in the UK then the number to call if there is no electricity in your home is 105.
If you have no lights, no sockets, no cooker, absolutely nothing then it looks very much like it could be a power cut. When there is a power cut from the supply there is nothing we can do and calling 105 will let you establish if there is a problem in the street or nearby area, there may be work going on to repair a transformer or underground cable for instance. The helpful people will be able to tell you what to do.
If you find that there is no issue with the supply in to your home then you may well need an electrician. In the event of “NO ELECTRICITY WHO DO I CALL” when you have tried 105 and had no luck then you need to establish what may have happened yourself.
We have produced a help sheet on our website to assist when you have had something tripping in your fuse box / consumer unit. It can be found in our help sheets section and is completely free.
This help sheet may sometimes help you get your power restored and save you the cost of an electrician coming out to your home. In the event that you cannot restore the power yourself then its time to call an electrician out to investigate.
Try to find a good local fault-finding electrician who specialises in emergencies, faults and repairs. Google is often your friend in these situations, look for lots of positive Google reviews from real people. The more the better really. Check out the electrician’s website and see what videos and help they have to offer on there. Its important that you feel comfortable with the tradesperson that you are inviting into your home and that you have confidence in them and their abilities to get your problems resolved.
🏠What could have happened if the problem is in my house?
There could be an issue with the main fuse that protects the cables. If the fuse has blown then this will need to be replaced. An electrician can check to see if this fuse has blown and will then call the relevant authorities to have it replaced.
There could be an issue with the isolator having poor connections creating a situation where electrical current cannot flow.
The consumer unit / fuse board could have some problems. The main switch or RCD can go faulty causing power cuts. Wires can burn out inside a consumer unit / fuse box creating dangerous situations and power cuts in your home.
⚡Will I need a new consumer unit?
If your consumer unit is damaged then it all depends on the electrician that attends. A lot of electricians will not repair damaged consumer units and will insist on a new unit being fitted. It greatly depends on the engineering judgement of the attending electrician and their opinion on electrical safety.
If for example one component has been damaged in the consumer unit and it is replaceable without adversely affecting anything else then it is likely that a repair is possible. If there is a bigger problem like a melted connection at one of the connection bars then the unit will have to be replaced, cables may have to be stripped back and re terminated with good copper and so on.
There are times when a new consumer unit may not be necessary but the existing consumer unit / fuse box is so old that parts cannot be easily sourced and as such a repair is not possible and a replacement is the only option.
What if the isolator is burnt out and cables damaged?
If the external (to the consumer unit) isolator is damaged then this can be replaced along with any damaged mains cabling by your electrician usually. Occasionally your electrician may need to contact a second body if they cannot work on the equipment without the power being completely isolated.
💸What does a new isolator cost to replace?
It depends on if the cables also need replacing. If there is damage to the mains cables then these may need to be cut back. Typically, an emergency replacement of cables and isolator may cost in the region of £200.
An emergency replacement of a consumer unit can cost upwards of £800 depending upon the number of circuits, how many faults there are that need to be rectified and so on. The figure given assumes a small consumer unit, no faults to correct, no isolator to fit and all paperwork and certificates included. Various factors can increase the price of this such as, size of consumer unit, faults that require rectification, access for testing purposes, carrying out the work out of hours as opposed to business hours and any other works that are required in order to ensure compliance with the electrical safety wiring regulations BS7671.
If you are wondering “NO ELECTRICITY WHO DO I CALL” then we are available to help you If you are in the North West. Further afield is also occasionally possible although we are likely to pass on a number for a local emergency firm or electrician that may be better equipped to assist you.
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