Power
You do not need to run the house. You need phones, light and maybe a fridge.
Work out what you really need
- Phones and a radio: a power bank.
- Phones, lights, router, laptop: a small power station.
- Fridge or medical device: a large power station or a generator. Do the sums in watt-hours first.
Power banks and stations
- Charge them every three months. Batteries fade on the shelf.
- A folding solar panel turns a power station into a renewable supply.
- Your car is a generator with wheels. Keep a 12 volt charger in it.
Generators
- Outdoors only, at least 6 metres from doors and windows, exhaust pointing away.
- Never plug one into a wall socket. It can kill a line worker.
- Store fuel in approved cans, away from the house, within local limits.
- Run it for an hour every few months so it starts when you need it.
Medical devices
- If someone depends on powered medical equipment, tell your electricity company and your doctor now.
- Have a written plan for where to go if the power stays off.
More from official sources
Updated 9 October 2026.