105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
SP Energy Networks
Your DNO
serves Merseyside
13+
towns covered
incl. Liverpool, Birkenhead, St Helens
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Merseyside
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Merseyside. 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 SP Energy Networks job.
Mersey estuary divides Liverpool from the Wirral; flat sandy plain runs north to Southport along the Irish Sea coast. Irish Sea storms hit the Wirral and Southport first; the Mersey tunnels' tidal flooding occasionally compromises substations on the docks at Garston and Bootle.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Merseyside
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 Merseyside know what's going on.
Thank you. Your report has been submitted and will help others in Merseyside.
Reports are anonymous. We use your address to place the marker on the map and never display your personal details.
Why the power goes out in Merseyside
Merseyside sits inside the SP Energy Networks Manweb licence area, covering Liverpool, the Wirral peninsula and the wider conurbation including St Helens and Southport. Mersey estuary divides Liverpool from the Wirral; flat sandy plain runs north to Southport along the Irish Sea coast.
Weather and terrain. Irish Sea storms hit the Wirral and Southport first; the Mersey tunnels' tidal flooding occasionally compromises substations on the docks at Garston and Bootle.
How the network is run. SP Manweb's Liverpool, Birkenhead and St Helens depots cover the county. Liverpool city centre is heavily underground; the Wirral has more mixed overhead and underground.
A local quirk worth knowing. The Mersey Tunnels (Queensway, Kingsway) have their own dedicated ventilation and lighting supply — a Merseyside power cut almost never affects tunnel operations.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Merseyside
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 SP Energy Networks network fault: call 105.
Dial 105 or 0800 001 5400
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 SP Energy 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 Merseyside
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Merseyside that is SP Energy Networks. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call SP Energy Networks directly on 0800 001 5400.
Irish Sea storms hit the Wirral and Southport first; the Mersey tunnels' tidal flooding occasionally compromises substations on the docks at Garston and Bootle. SP Manweb's Liverpool, Birkenhead and St Helens depots cover the county. Liverpool city centre is heavily underground; the Wirral has more mixed overhead and underground.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Merseyside 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 SP Energy Networks within 10 working days — claim within 30 days if it doesn't arrive.
SP Energy 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 Merseyside — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Lancashire
Electricity North West
Cheshire
SP Energy Networks
Shropshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Greater Manchester
Electricity North West
Staffordshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
Cumbria
Electricity North West
Herefordshire
National Grid Electricity Distribution
West Yorkshire
Northern Powergrid
Other counties served by SP Energy Networks
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.