105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
Northern Powergrid
Your DNO
serves Northumberland
10+
towns covered
incl. Hexham, Blyth, Ashington
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Northumberland
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Northumberland. 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 Northern Powergrid job.
Cheviot Hills in the west, the Northumberland coastal plain in the east, and the Tyne valley running across the south. Storm Arwen (November 2021) hit Northumberland hardest of all English counties — some homes were off supply for over a week. North Sea easterlies regularly ice up overhead lines.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Northumberland
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 Northumberland know what's going on.
Thank you. Your report has been submitted and will help others in Northumberland.
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 Northumberland
Pick your town for local outage reports, the live map and your network operator's fault line.
Why the power goes out in Northumberland
Northumberland is England's northernmost county and the most rural part of Northern Powergrid's Northeast licence area, from Hadrian's Wall to the Scottish border at Berwick. Cheviot Hills in the west, the Northumberland coastal plain in the east, and the Tyne valley running across the south.
Weather and terrain. Storm Arwen (November 2021) hit Northumberland hardest of all English counties — some homes were off supply for over a week. North Sea easterlies regularly ice up overhead lines.
How the network is run. NPG depots at Hexham, Blyth and Alnwick dispatch engineers. Many Cheviot Hill villages (Wooler, Rothbury, Bellingham) are at the end of long single overhead feeders.
A local quirk worth knowing. Berwick-upon-Tweed sits geographically in Scotland but is fed by Northern Powergrid from English depots — its dialling code, post code and DNO all differ from the surrounding area.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Northumberland
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 Northern Powergrid network fault: call 105.
Dial 105 or 0800 668 877
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 Northern Powergrid 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 Northumberland
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Northumberland that is Northern Powergrid. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call Northern Powergrid directly on 0800 668 877.
Storm Arwen (November 2021) hit Northumberland hardest of all English counties — some homes were off supply for over a week. North Sea easterlies regularly ice up overhead lines. NPG depots at Hexham, Blyth and Alnwick dispatch engineers. Many Cheviot Hill villages (Wooler, Rothbury, Bellingham) are at the end of long single overhead feeders.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Northumberland 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 Northern Powergrid within 10 working days — claim within 30 days if it doesn't arrive.
Northern Powergrid 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 Northumberland — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Tyne and Wear
Northern Powergrid
County Durham
Northern Powergrid
Cumbria
Electricity North West
North Yorkshire
Northern Powergrid
West Yorkshire
Northern Powergrid
Lancashire
Electricity North West
Greater Manchester
Electricity North West
South Yorkshire
Northern Powergrid
Other counties served by Northern Powergrid
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.