Power Cut in My House But Not Street: Is It Your Problem or Theirs?
The lights have gone out in your home. But when you look outside, the street lights are on, and your neighbours’ houses have power. This tells you something important: the fault is inside your home, not in the public electricity network. That also means it’s your responsibility to fix it—and you need to act quickly.
We’re SOBE Services. We handle dozens of these calls every week, especially across South London and Surrey. This guide will help you work out what’s wrong and whether you need an emergency electrician or if you can wait until morning.
The Key Distinction: Internal vs External Faults
Your responsibility: Anything from your consumer unit (fuse board) backwards into your house. All your wiring, sockets, appliances, and distribution boards.
The DNO’s responsibility: The supply cable coming into your property, the meter, and everything beyond that. The DNO (Distribution Network Operator) is the company that manages the local electrical network. In most of South London and Surrey, that’s UK Power Networks.
If your neighbours have power and you don’t, the fault is almost certainly inside your home.
Step 1: Check Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Board)
Go to your fuse board. Usually, it’s in the kitchen, hallway, garage, or under the stairs. Look at the switches.
What you’re looking for:
– A switch in the “off” position (switched down or to the left)
– A red indicator light or a breaker that’s tripped
– Any visible damage, burning, or scorch marks
If a switch is down:
Try switching it back up. If the power comes back on, you’ve found the problem. Your circuit breaker (or RCD) has tripped. See our guide on why your fuse board keeps tripping for detailed diagnosis.
If the main switch is down (the big one at the top):
This is more serious. Try switching it back up. If it stays on, power should return. If it immediately trips back down, there’s a fault in your main supply or installation. Go to Step 4 (call an electrician).
If you have old-style fuses instead of circuit breakers:
Look for a missing or blown fuse. They’re the cylindrical things that screw in. A blown fuse will look blackened or have a broken wire inside. If you find one, check if you have a spare and can replace it. But only if you know which circuit it controls and you’re confident about doing it. If you’re not sure, go to Step 4.
If nothing looks wrong but power is still off:
Move to Step 2.
Step 2: Check for Tripped RCDs
Modern fuse boards have RCD switches (Residual Current Devices). These are usually larger than standard circuit breakers and often have a “test” button on them.
They’re designed to protect you from electrocution by cutting power instantly if they detect dangerous current leakage.
Look for:
– A switch that’s in the “off” position
– Usually labelled “RCD”, “RCD/RCBO”, or “Main Switch”
– It might be in the down position while others are up
If you find one that’s down:
Try switching it back up. If power returns, something caused the RCD to trip. This could be:
– Water damage in an appliance
– A fault in your wiring
– An appliance leaking current
– Moisture in your electrics
If the RCD stays on, your fault is isolated to one circuit. If the main RCD keeps tripping immediately after you flip it back, there’s a serious fault. Don’t keep trying—go to Step 4.
If nothing is tripped:
Move to Step 3.
Step 3: Check Your Meter and Supply
Go outside and look at your electricity meter. It’s usually on the outside wall of your home, often in a little box.
What you’re looking for:
– Is the meter illuminated (does it have a small light or display)?
– Are there any visible signs of damage?
– Is the meter box damaged or open?
If the meter is dark/unlit:
This could mean the supply has been cut at the meter. This should only happen if:
– The DNO has cut you off for non-payment (you’ll have received formal notice)
– There’s been a fault in the incoming supply cable
– The meter has failed
If the meter looks fine but the display shows 0:
The meter itself might have failed. This is rare but possible. You need an electrician to investigate.
If you can see the incoming supply cable and it looks damaged:
Don’t touch it. Call an electrician. A damaged supply cable is the DNO’s responsibility, but you’ll need professional confirmation before you can claim it.
If the meter and supply look fine, move to Step 4.
Step 4: What to Do Now
You’ve checked your fuse board, your RCDs, and your meter. Nothing obvious is wrong, but you still have no power. This means:
- There’s a fault in your internal wiring or distribution—possibly behind the walls where you can’t see it
- The main isolator switch at the meter has failed
- There’s an intermittent fault that will be hard to diagnose without testing
You need an electrician.
When to Call an Emergency Electrician
Call now (emergency, 24/7) if:
– You’ve had a power cut since yesterday or longer
– There’s visible damage to your fuse board, meter, or wiring
– You tried to reset the main switch and it keeps tripping
– You smell burning or see scorch marks
– You’ve had water damage recently and now have no power
– Multiple circuits are affected at once
– You have young children, elderly people, or someone with medical equipment depending on electricity
Call first thing tomorrow (regular appointment) if:
– The power cut just happened in the last hour
– You can isolate the problem to one circuit/room
– You can manage without power until morning
– Nothing looks damaged
SOBE Services charges £216 inc VAT for emergency visits (first hour after 6pm), or £264 at weekends. Regular appointments are at standard rates. We’re 4-hour response guarantee, so you won’t be left for days.
When It Might Be the DNO’s Problem
Very occasionally, the fault is actually on the DNO’s side, even if it looks like yours:
The supply cable into your home has failed. This is the thick cable that comes into your meter from the street. If this has deteriorated or been damaged, the DNO must repair it at their cost. You’ll need an electrician to confirm the fault is there (you can’t diagnose it yourself), and then you report it to the DNO.
The DNO’s supply has been interrupted. If there’s been an incident on the main network that only affects your connection (unlikely but possible), report it to the DNO and they’ll investigate.
How to report to the DNO:
– Call them directly (search “electricity distributor [your area]”)
– UK Power Networks: 0800 7838 838
– They’ll want your meter reference and address
– Be clear: “I have no power in my home, but my neighbours do”
Don’t assume it’s their problem. Get an electrician’s diagnosis first. Most power cuts in single homes are internal faults.
Common Internal Faults That Cause Single-House Power Cuts
Main Isolator Switch Has Failed
The large switch at the top of your fuse board has a mechanical failure. It looks fine but doesn’t conduct electricity. An electrician can test this with a multimeter and replace it if needed.
Burned or Corroded Connections at the Meter
Inside the meter or at the connections between the meter and your fuse board, corrosion has built up. This breaks the electrical contact. An electrician or the meter operator can check this.
Loose Main Neutral Connection
The neutral wire (the return path for electricity) has worked loose somewhere between the meter and your fuse board. This is invisible but prevents power from flowing. An electrician will find this by testing.
Intermittent Fault in Incoming Cable
The cable into your home has developed a crack in the insulation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This requires testing and replacement.
Consumer Unit Failure
Rarely, the entire fuse board has a fault. Usually, you’d see signs of burning, but not always. An electrician can test individual components.
What Will an Electrician Do?
- Test the supply at your meter to confirm power is reaching it
- Test the main switch and isolator to check they’re conducting
- Test for voltage at different points in your installation to pinpoint where the power stops
- Inspect wiring for visible damage
- Test individual circuits if power is intermittent
- Provide a fixed quote before carrying out repairs
The diagnostic visit itself usually takes 30–60 minutes. Fixing the problem depends on what’s found. Simple fixes (loose connection, tripped RCD) are done immediately. More complex issues (cable replacement, fuse board repair) take longer and cost more.
Cost Expectations
- Diagnostic visit: Usually included in the call-out fee (£216 emergency, or standard rate for non-emergency)
- Simple fixes (resetting RCD, tightening connections): £0–£100 extra
- Replacing the main isolator: £150–£250
- Tracing and repairing wiring: £200–£500+
- Replacing damaged cables: £300–£1,000+
All SOBE quotes are fixed-price with no hidden costs. We’ll tell you what it’ll cost before we start work.
In the Meantime
Whilst you’re waiting for an electrician:
- Keep the main switch in the “off” position to protect your wiring
- Use a torch or battery-powered lights—don’t use candles
- Turn off major appliances (boiler, heating) if the power might return suddenly
- Keep the area around your fuse board clear so an electrician can access it easily
- Have your meter reference number ready (it’s on your electricity bill)
- Keep a note of when the power cut happened—this helps diagnosis
Special Cases
If you’re in a flat with shared electrics: The fault might be in the communal supply. Alert the building manager or your landlord immediately. They’re responsible for fixing communal faults.
If you rent: Notify your landlord. Most landlords have an agreement with an emergency electrician. If yours doesn’t, you can call SOBE and keep receipts—you may be able to claim the cost back.
If you’re on a meter you don’t own (rental meter): The meter operator might need to be involved. Your electrician will advise.
Prevention
To avoid future power cuts:
- Have your wiring checked every 10 years (more often if your home is over 40 years old)
- Keep your fuse board dry and well-ventilated
- Don’t block access to your consumer unit
- Fix damp issues promptly (water damages wiring insulation)
- Have an EICR inspection if you’ve never had one (especially important if you rent the property out)
For homes with a history of electrical problems, a fuse board upgrade might address the root cause. An emergency electrician with a care plan ensures you have priority response 24/7 if this happens again.
The Bottom Line
A power cut in your house but not your street means the fault is yours to fix. It’s usually something that an electrician can diagnose quickly and fix within a few hours. Don’t wait and hope it comes back on—if it’s gone, something is genuinely wrong.
If you’re in South London or Surrey—Banstead, Cheam, Carshalton, Sutton, Epsom, Purley, Wallington, Reigate, Kingswood, or Ashtead—call SOBE Services on 07424 660495.
We’ll attend within 4 hours (emergency), diagnose the fault, and give you a fixed price to repair it. No guessing, no surprises, no hidden charges. We’re available 24/7, including weekends.
Power back on quickly. That’s our job.
