# Sources for power cut advice and payments

> Where Power Cut Kit's information comes from: the government's Be Ready checklist, Ofgem on payments and the register, Food Standards Scotland and fire service advice.

- Canonical URL: https://powercutkit.co.uk/sources/
- Checked: 2026-10-25

## Official pages we rely on (checked 25 October 2026)

- [UK government, Be Ready: be ready for emergencies](https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/), page updated 21 October 2026: the three-day checklist (water at 3 litres per person per day, food, hygiene, torch, battery or wind-up FM radio, power bank, cash, documents, first aid and medicines, baby and pet supplies), the grab bag and car supplies.
- [Be Ready household emergency plan (PDF)](https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/252/2026/10/Be-Ready_Household_Emergency_Plan_English_Final.pdf) and the plan steps on the Be Ready page: meeting point, escape routes, contacts, the power cut numbers (105, and 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland), ICE contacts, schools.
- Be Ready hazard pages on [storms](https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-informed-about-hazards/storms/) and [cold weather](https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-informed-about-hazards/cold-weather-snow-ice/), and [alerts and warnings](https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/alerts-and-warnings/): storm steps, rooms at 18°C or more, the winter car kit, Emergency Alerts and warning sign-ups.
- [Ofgem, check if you can get a payment for a power cut](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/check-if-you-can-get-payment-power-cut): 105, guaranteed payments in normal weather and storms, automatic payment, the £40 for missed payments, the claim for more than four cuts.
- [Ofgem, join your supplier's Priority Services Register](https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/join-your-suppliers-priority-services-register): who can join, the services, joining supplier and network registers separately.
- [Food Standards Scotland, power cuts](https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/consumers/food-safety/at-home/power-cuts): fridge and freezer times, the 8°C threshold, the order to eat food.
- [Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, power cuts](https://www.dwfire.org.uk/safety/storms-and-power-cuts/power-cuts/): candles, appliances, carbon monoxide, gas leaks, wind-up torches, 105.

## Figures the tools work out

- Meals in the kit list are counted as three a day per person; the official list only says three days of food.
- Torches per adult and warm layers per person are suggestions, not part of the official wording.
- Payments are worked out in full periods (12 hours, or 6 hours in storms) after the first threshold, as Ofgem describes them.

## Still to check

- Ofgem's yearly inflation update of the payment amounts; we recheck it when Ofgem publishes.

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Power Cut Kit · Contact: contact@powercutkit.co.uk