These payments are Ofgem's guaranteed standards for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own regulator and rules.

Normal weather

Situation	Payment to your home
Fewer than 5,000 homes affected, cut lasts more than 12 hours	£100
5,000 or more homes affected, cut lasts more than 24 hours	£100
Each further 12 hours without power	£45 more
Most a home can get when 5,000 or more homes are affected	£400
More than 4 cuts of at least 3 hours between 1 April and 31 March	£100 more (you must claim)

Source: Ofgem. The amounts are reviewed every year for inflation.

Storms

When severe weather hits the network, the operator classes the event as a storm and different rules apply:

Storm category	Payment starts after	Then	Maximum
Category 1	24 hours: £90	£45 every 6 hours	£2,235
Category 2	48 hours: £90	£45 every 6 hours	£2,235

How you are paid

Most payments are automatic: you do not need to claim. The network operator may pay by cheque, cash or bank transfer, or through your energy supplier as a credit on your account or prepayment meter. If nothing has arrived after a few months, contact your network operator; if it missed a payment, it may owe you an extra £40. The only payment you have to claim is the £100 for more than four cuts in a year (Ofgem).

Being on the Priority Services Register

It brings extra help during a cut, such as battery packs for phones or medical equipment, but no extra money. See the Priority Services Register.

Worked example

A cut that affects 800 homes and lasts 30 hours in normal weather: £100 at 12 hours, then one full further 12-hour period (12 to 24 hours) for £45, and the time from 24 to 30 hours is not a full period yet. Total: £145. The calculator does this for you; your network operator makes the final decision.