105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
SSEN
Your DNO
serves Isle of Wight
6+
towns covered
incl. Newport, Ryde, Cowes
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Isle of Wight
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Isle of Wight. 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.
An island of 380 km² with chalk downs running east to west and a heavily indented coastline. Channel storms hit the south coast (Ventnor, Niton) hardest; the sub-sea cable landing points at Sandown and Cowes occasionally need diving repairs after anchor strikes.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Isle of Wight
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 Isle of Wight know what's going on.
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Why the power goes out in Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is fed by two sub-sea cables from the mainland and is otherwise self-contained inside SSEN's southern licence area. Loss of one cable still keeps the island supplied; loss of both is a rare but high-impact event. An island of 380 km² with chalk downs running east to west and a heavily indented coastline.
Weather and terrain. Channel storms hit the south coast (Ventnor, Niton) hardest; the sub-sea cable landing points at Sandown and Cowes occasionally need diving repairs after anchor strikes.
How the network is run. SSEN's Newport (Isle of Wight) depot dispatches engineers across the island. Twin 132 kV submarine cables from Lymington and Mannings Heath provide redundant island feeds.
A local quirk worth knowing. When both submarine cables have failed simultaneously (last in 2018), SSEN runs the island on its emergency mobile generators from Newport — restoration of full mainland supply typically takes 12 to 24 hours.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Isle of Wight
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 Isle of Wight
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Isle of Wight that is SSEN. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call SSEN directly on 0800 072 7282.
Channel storms hit the south coast (Ventnor, Niton) hardest; the sub-sea cable landing points at Sandown and Cowes occasionally need diving repairs after anchor strikes. SSEN's Newport (Isle of Wight) depot dispatches engineers across the island. Twin 132 kV submarine cables from Lymington and Mannings Heath provide redundant island feeds.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Isle of Wight 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 Isle of Wight — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Hampshire
SSEN
West Sussex
SSEN
Berkshire
SSEN
Wiltshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Dorset
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Oxfordshire
SSEN
Surrey
SSEN
Buckinghamshire
SSEN
Other counties served by SSEN
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.