105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Your DNO
serves Bristol
4+
towns covered
incl. Bristol, Clifton, Bedminster
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Bristol
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Bristol. 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 National Grid Electricity Distribution job.
Steep gorges (the Avon Gorge, Brandon Hill) divide a city built on multiple hills, with the harbour and Floating Harbour right in the centre. Atlantic storms charging up the Bristol Channel routinely sweep the city; combined sewage flooding occasionally compromises ground-mounted substations near the harbour.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Bristol
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 Bristol know what's going on.
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Why the power goes out in Bristol
Bristol is a compact, dense urban unitary authority of 460,000 people inside the South West NGED (former Western Power Distribution) licence area, with cable runs serving everything from the harbourside to the suburban edges of Henleaze and Filton. Steep gorges (the Avon Gorge, Brandon Hill) divide a city built on multiple hills, with the harbour and Floating Harbour right in the centre.
Weather and terrain. Atlantic storms charging up the Bristol Channel routinely sweep the city; combined sewage flooding occasionally compromises ground-mounted substations near the harbour.
How the network is run. NGED runs depots at Feeder Road and Avonmouth. The harbour and Clifton areas are entirely underground; rural suburbs on the city's northern edge mix overhead and underground.
A local quirk worth knowing. Bristol Airport sits outside the city in North Somerset — for an outage there, the supply area is also NGED but the substation responsible is at Lulsgate.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Bristol
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 National Grid Electricity Distribution network fault: call 105.
Dial 105 or 0800 6783 105
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 National Grid Electricity Distribution 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 Bristol
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Bristol that is National Grid Electricity Distribution. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call National Grid Electricity Distribution directly on 0800 6783 105.
Atlantic storms charging up the Bristol Channel routinely sweep the city; combined sewage flooding occasionally compromises ground-mounted substations near the harbour. NGED runs depots at Feeder Road and Avonmouth. The harbour and Clifton areas are entirely underground; rural suburbs on the city's northern edge mix overhead and underground.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Bristol 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 National Grid Electricity Distribution within 10 working days — claim within 30 days if it doesn't arrive.
National Grid Electricity Distribution 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 Bristol — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Somerset
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Gloucestershire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Herefordshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Wiltshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Dorset
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Worcestershire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
West Midlands
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Shropshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Other counties served by National Grid Electricity Distribution
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.