Power Failure

Advice on what you should do if your electricity supply fails

If your lights go out and your sockets fail, there could be a number of reasons:

Your tripswitch may have operated
There maybe a power cut or network fault in your area
Guernsey Electricity's main service fuse in your home may have failed
Your Key meter may have no more credit on it or may be faulty

First check your tripswitch, which in the majority of cases is located next to your main fusebox or next to the meter.

Remember on this type of device:

UP position is ON
DOWN position is OFF

If the tripswitch is OFF (down)

Try to switch it back on. If the switch trips immediately you have a fault in an appliance or in the wiring of your property.
Leave the tripswitch off, unplug all appliances, switch off things like your immersion heater, oven and hob.
Try the tripswitch again.
If it stays on, one by one begin to switch appliances back on. By this process of elimination, you should find the faulty appliance. Leave that appliance unplugged or switched off and call the service agent.
If the switch still refuses to re-set, double check that all equipment has been switched off. If everything has been unplugged or switched off and the switch will not re-set you may have a fault in the wiring. Do not attempt to trace the fault yourself, call your electrical contractor.

If the tripswitch is ON (up)

If possible check with your neighbours to see if they still have their electricity supply. At night look outside to see if the streetlights are on. If everywhere is off, call our freephone emergency number 0800 587 0285 as there is either a localised network fault or a power cut. Do not assume we are aware that you have lost supply.
If your neighbours still have their electricity supply and you appear to be the only house without supply our main service fuse inside your home may have failed. Call our freephone emergency number 0800 587 0285.

Advice for Key meter customers:

If you have a key meter fitted, check there is unused credit on the meter. If credit is required you can get £1 of emergency credit by re-inserting your key.
Keys can be re-charged at either of our shops, or at Checkers, Lande du Marche garage or at the Total Service Station at the Ville au Roi.
If there is unused credit on the key meter there may be a fault on the meter. Call our freephone emergency number 0800 587 0285.

If Guernsey Electricity engineers attend to faults on our own equipment the service is free and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If, however, our engineer attends to a fault that proves to be within the customers own property or equipment then we will make a charge for our attendance.

USEFUL TIPS IN A POWER CUT

Always keep a fully charged torch or a torch with fresh batteries in a readily available and convenient place.
Food in the freezer should keep for about 8 hours without power. Do not open the freezer door unless you have to. If food has thawed do not re-freeze. You may be able to claim for any losses on the household contents section of your home insurance policy. Check your policy to make sure.
Unplug all appliances, particularly sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, satellite systems, videos, TVs, telephones and ansaphones because when restoring supplies momentary voltage fluctuations can occur which are beyond our control. These may damage such equipment.
Install suitable protective devices on sensitive electronic equipment.
Leave one light switched on. This will let you know when the supply has been restored.
Do not leave lit candles in unoccupied rooms.
If using bottles gas fires, do not move them around when lit and only operate in a ventilated room.
Once supply is restored remember to correct all timeclocks.
Remember to keep safe. If somebody calls ether during or after a power cut claiming to be from Guernsey Electricity, ask to see their identity card. All employees carry one. The card will include the GE logo, together with the employees photograph and signature. If you are unsure do not let them in, call our freephone number 0800 587 0285 to confirm the identity of the caller.