Power Cut or Electrical Fault? What to Do in Doncaster (105 vs an Electrician)

When the lights go out, the first question isn't how to fix it — it's whose problem it is. Get that right and you save time, and sometimes money: a fault on the network is fixed free by Northern Powergrid, while a fault in your home needs an electrician. If you already know it's inside your property and it's urgent, go straight to our emergency electrician Doncaster page.

Step 1: look outside

Check whether the street lights and your neighbours' homes are dark too. If they are, it's almost certainly a network power cut. Call 105, the free national power cut number, or check Northern Powergrid's online power cut map for updates.

Step 2: look at your consumer unit

If only your home is affected, open the consumer unit (fuse board) and look for a main switch, RCD or circuit breaker in the off position.

• **One breaker or RCD has tripped:** unplug everything on that circuit, then try resetting it once. If it stays on, plug appliances back in one at a time — the one that trips it again is usually the culprit.
• **It trips again straight away with nothing plugged in:** stop. Repeated resetting can mask a dangerous fault. That's a job for an electrician.
• **Nothing has tripped, but you still have no power:** the main fuse in the sealed cut-out beside your meter may have blown. Don't open or touch it — it belongs to Northern Powergrid. Call 105.

Step 3: know when it's an emergency

Call an electrician straight away if you can smell burning, see scorch marks, hear crackling from sockets or switches, or find exposed wiring. If there's smoke or fire, get everyone out and call 999 first. Scorching or crackling at the meter or cut-out is a 105 call.

During a long power cut

• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed — a closed freezer keeps food frozen far longer than one that keeps being opened.
• Switch off appliances that could restart unexpectedly when the power returns, and leave one light switched on so you know when it's back.
• If someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment, or you're elderly, disabled or have young children, join your network operator's **Priority Services Register**. Northern Powergrid runs one, and registered households get extra support and updates during power cuts.

Who pays for what

Faults on the network — the street cables, the service cable into your home and the sealed cut-out — are Northern Powergrid's responsibility and cost you nothing. Everything from the consumer unit onwards is your installation. If you rent, report faults to your landlord first: they're responsible for keeping the electrical installation in repair.

Quick reference

• Whole street out: call **105**.
• Only your home, something has tripped: reset once; if it trips again, call an electrician.
• Only your home, nothing tripped: probably the main fuse — call **105**.
• Burning smell, scorching or sparking inside: switch off at the consumer unit and call our emergency electrician Doncaster team on 0333 577 5464.
• Smoke or fire: get out and call **999**.

Outside Doncaster? We also have guidance for an emergency electrician in Sheffield and an emergency electrician in Rotherham.