This page explains what to do if you have a problem with your electricity supply or lighting.
Follow these steps to identify the cause of the problem and get the right help.
If there is a power cut
Check whether nearby properties are affected. This may not always be your immediate neighbours.
If other properties are also affected, contact SSE to check whether there is a power cut in your area.
If only your home has a power cut
Check your meter
Look at your electricity meter and make sure:
- the meter is switched on
- you have enough credit, if you use a prepayment or card meter
If you have credit but your meter is off, contact your electricity supplier.
Check your fuse board
Look at your fuse board to see if any of the trip switches are down (off). If they are:
- push them back to the up (on) position
- check if a switch trips again immediately, as this could mean a faulty appliance or light circuit
Watch 'How to find and reset your meter' on YouTube (1 minute 11 seconds)
Find a faulty appliance
Follow these steps to find out if a faulty appliance is causing the problem.
- Unplug all appliances on that circuit
- Reset the trip switch on your fuse board
- Plug the appliances back in one at a time until the power trips again
- Test the suspected appliance using a different socket to see if it trips again
If the second socket does not trip, the first socket might be broken. Test it with a working appliance to be sure.
Watch 'How to find an electrical power fault' on YouTube (1 minute 55 seconds)
Check your lighting
If the switches on the fuse board are up (on) but your lights do not work, you should:
- try replacing the bulb
- report a housing repair if the light still does not work or the fitting is physically damaged
- report an emergency repair if the switch trips again, your lighting is not working and it will be dark soon
You are responsible for replacing light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and starters. To replace a bulb in a sealed bathroom unit, you will need a crosshead screwdriver or Allen key and a 16W 2D (2 or 4-pin) bulb.
How to report a repair
If you have followed these steps and your electricity or lighting is still not working, report a housing repair.
You are responsible for maintaining your own appliances and any electrical work carried out by someone else. We only fix items that we originally installed.
You will be charged for the visit and any repair costs if our engineer finds that the issue was caused by your appliance or by electrical work carried out by someone else.
