105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
SSEN
Your DNO
serves Berkshire
9+
towns covered
incl. Reading, Slough, Bracknell
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Berkshire
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Berkshire. Zoom in on your street to check whether a cut is your home only or a wider network fault — when neighbours are also dark, it is a SSEN job.
Thames-valley floodplain in the east, gentle chalk downs around Lambourn in the west, with Reading sat at the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet. Thames Valley fog and freezing fog can shut substations around Maidenhead and Windsor; convective summer storms regularly hit the Berkshire Downs.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Berkshire
Seeing a cut the map hasn't caught yet? Add it in seconds. Your report is anonymous and appears on the live map above so neighbours in Berkshire know what's going on.
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Why the power goes out in Berkshire
Royal Berkshire stretches from the Thames at Windsor through Reading's Thames Valley tech corridor to the Berkshire Downs near Hungerford. The county sits inside SSEN's Southern England licence area. Thames-valley floodplain in the east, gentle chalk downs around Lambourn in the west, with Reading sat at the confluence of the Thames and the Kennet.
Weather and terrain. Thames Valley fog and freezing fog can shut substations around Maidenhead and Windsor; convective summer storms regularly hit the Berkshire Downs.
How the network is run. SSEN runs operations from Maidenhead, Reading and Newbury depots. Heavy data-centre demand around Slough means the Slough Trading Estate sub-network is one of the densest in the UK.
A local quirk worth knowing. Slough's data centres draw so much power that planned cuts for upgrade work are coordinated months in advance — and the area sees more notice-of-cut letters than almost any other in England.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Berkshire
Check whether neighbours are affected
Look at the street lights and the houses opposite. If they're on, your fault is inside your home — check the consumer unit. If they're out too, it is a SSEN network fault: call 105.
Dial 105 or 0800 072 7282
Have your full postcode ready. Ask the operator for an estimated time of restoration (ETR) and a fault reference number — both make any later compensation claim faster.
Unplug sensitive electronics
Unplug TVs, routers, computers and consoles to protect them from a surge when supply returns. Leave one light switched on so you'll know visually when the power is back.
Log start and end times
A cut over 24 hours in normal weather entitles you to £75 from SSEN under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards. Severe weather has higher thresholds and a £2,000 cap. Keep a written log with photos — most payments arrive automatically within 10 working days.
The Selectra expert answers your questions on power cuts in Berkshire
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Berkshire that is SSEN. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call SSEN directly on 0800 072 7282.
Thames Valley fog and freezing fog can shut substations around Maidenhead and Windsor; convective summer storms regularly hit the Berkshire Downs. SSEN runs operations from Maidenhead, Reading and Newbury depots. Heavy data-centre demand around Slough means the Slough Trading Estate sub-network is one of the densest in the UK.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Berkshire receive £75 after 24 hours off in normal weather, plus £40 every additional 12 hours up to £300. Severe-weather events have higher thresholds and a £2,000 cap. Payment is normally automatic from SSEN within 10 working days — claim within 30 days if it doesn't arrive.
SSEN announces planned cuts by letter (and increasingly text or email) 2 to 8 days in advance. Most run 8am to 6pm and last 2 to 8 hours. Planned cuts do not qualify for Ofgem compensation unless your DNO failed to give adequate notice (a £40 payment applies then).
Power cuts in nearby areas
Other counties close to Berkshire — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Oxfordshire
SSEN
Buckinghamshire
SSEN
Hampshire
SSEN
Surrey
SSEN
West Sussex
SSEN
Bedfordshire
UK Power Networks
Northamptonshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Isle of Wight
SSEN
Other counties served by SSEN
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.