105
Free national fault line
Free, 24/7
SSEN
Your DNO
serves Orkney Islands
1+
towns covered
incl. Kirkwall, Stromness, Finstown
up to £150+
Ofgem compensation
for cuts over 24h
Live outage map for Orkney Islands
The map shows incidents reported by users in real time, centred on Orkney Islands. 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.
Low, treeless islands with rolling farmland on Mainland and steep cliffs on Hoy. Atlantic storms hit Orkney directly — Storm Eowyn (2025) and Storm Otto (2023) both caused multi-day outages across the islands.
Live Power Outages in the UK
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Report a power cut in Orkney Islands
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 Orkney Islands know what's going on.
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Power cuts by town in Orkney Islands
Pick your town for local outage reports, the live map and your network operator's fault line.
Why the power goes out in Orkney Islands
Orkney is an archipelago of 70 islands (around 20 inhabited) off the northern tip of Scotland, fed by sub-sea cables from Caithness. SSEN runs the entire network. Low, treeless islands with rolling farmland on Mainland and steep cliffs on Hoy.
Weather and terrain. Atlantic storms hit Orkney directly — Storm Eowyn (2025) and Storm Otto (2023) both caused multi-day outages across the islands.
How the network is run. SSEN's Kirkwall depot dispatches engineers and coordinates sub-sea cable repairs. Orkney is a net exporter of wind generation to the mainland, which complicates fault response.
A local quirk worth knowing. Orkney's heavy wind generation (the islands frequently produce more electricity than they consume) means a sub-sea export-cable fault can cause unusual voltage stability issues even when the local supply is unaffected.
What to do when the power goes out at home in Orkney Islands
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 300 999
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 Orkney Islands
Always to your Distribution Network Operator, not your supplier. In Orkney Islands that is SSEN. Dial 105 (Free national fault line) — free, 24/7 — or call SSEN directly on 0800 300 999.
Atlantic storms hit Orkney directly — Storm Eowyn (2025) and Storm Otto (2023) both caused multi-day outages across the islands. SSEN's Kirkwall depot dispatches engineers and coordinates sub-sea cable repairs. Orkney is a net exporter of wind generation to the mainland, which complicates fault response.
Yes. Under Ofgem's Guaranteed Standards of Performance, domestic customers in Orkney Islands 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 Orkney Islands — useful if your storm or fault crosses council boundaries.
Moray
SSEN
Aberdeenshire
SSEN
Aberdeen City
SSEN
Highland
SSEN
Shetland Islands
SSEN
Angus
SSEN
Dundee City
SSEN
Perth and Kinross
SSEN
Other counties served by SSEN
Same operator, same emergency number, similar restoration patterns and compensation framework.