105

Free national fault line

Free, 24/7

UK Power Networks

Your DNO

serves Essex

18+

towns covered

incl. Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend-on-Sea

up to £150+

Ofgem compensation

for cuts over 24h

Live outage map for Essex

The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Essex. 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 UK Power Networks job.

Low rolling farmland in the north, the Crouch and Blackwater estuaries with extensive saltmarsh, and the Thames estuary on the south coast. North Sea easterlies bring snow to north Essex; storm surges in the Thames estuary occasionally compromise substations at Tilbury and Canvey Island.

Live Power Outages in the UK

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Source: user reports · Selectra

Report a power cut in Essex

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 Essex know what's going on.

Thank you. Your report has been submitted and will help others in Essex.

Reports are anonymous. We use your address to place the marker on the map and never display your personal details.

Power cuts by town in Essex

Pick your town for local outage reports, the live map and your network operator's fault line.

Basildon Billericay Braintree Brentwood Canvey Island Chelmsford Clacton-on-Sea Colchester Epping Grays Harlow Harwich Loughton Maldon Rayleigh Saffron Walden Southend-on-Sea Witham

Why the power goes out in Essex

Essex stretches from the eastern edge of Greater London at Romford out to the Stour estuary, served entirely by UK Power Networks' Eastern licence area. Low rolling farmland in the north, the Crouch and Blackwater estuaries with extensive saltmarsh, and the Thames estuary on the south coast.

Weather and terrain. North Sea easterlies bring snow to north Essex; storm surges in the Thames estuary occasionally compromise substations at Tilbury and Canvey Island.

How the network is run. UKPN depots at Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend. Stansted Airport has its own dedicated supply; large warehouse demand on the M25/A12 corridor means industrial feeder upgrades have run continuously since 2020.

A local quirk worth knowing. Canvey Island sits below sea level and is protected by a sea wall — the entire island grid is designed to fail safe in flooding scenarios, which means precautionary cuts during storm tides.

Essex is served by UK Power Networks. All network faults — whoever supplies your electricity (Octopus, British Gas, EDF, OVO, E.ON Next…) — are reported on 105. Your supplier handles the bill but cannot dispatch an engineer.

What to do when the power goes out at home in Essex

1

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 UK Power Networks network fault: call 105.

2

Dial 105 or 0800 31 63 105

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.

3

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.

4

Log start and end times

A cut over 24 hours in normal weather entitles you to £75 from UK Power Networks 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 Essex

Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Essex that is UK Power Networks. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call UK Power Networks directly on 0800 31 63 105.

North Sea easterlies bring snow to north Essex; storm surges in the Thames estuary occasionally compromise substations at Tilbury and Canvey Island. UKPN depots at Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend. Stansted Airport has its own dedicated supply; large warehouse demand on the M25/A12 corridor means industrial feeder upgrades have run continuously since 2020.

Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Essex 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 UK Power Networks within 10 working days — claim within 30 days if it doesn't arrive.

UK Power Networks 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 Essex — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.

Suffolk

UK Power Networks

Kent

UK Power Networks

Cambridgeshire

UK Power Networks

City of London

UK Power Networks

Greater London

UK Power Networks

Hertfordshire

UK Power Networks

Norfolk

UK Power Networks

East Sussex

UK Power Networks

Other counties served by UK Power Networks

Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.

Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire City of London East Sussex Greater London Hertfordshire
What to do in a power cutStep-by-step guide and compensation rules. National live map & reportReport a cut and browse every county. All of EnglandEvery county and DNO across England. UK Power Networks network guideCoverage, contacts and live map.