With the arrival of Storm Eunice, wind, rain and sleet have been forecast in Glasgow.
According to the Met Office, "a mixture of wintry showers and clear spells are likely to lead to a cold night with some icy stretches developing on untreated surfaces".
Amid the heavy winds, there is also the potential for power cuts to occur.
READ MORE — Storm Eunice: Experts reveal where storm got its name and what next one will be called
With another yellow warning for wind in place for Glasgow on Sunday, it is important that people are prepared for the possibility of their power going out.
Experts at Utility Bidder have shared advice on the steps that should be taken in the event of a power cut during bad weather.
How to know if you’ve had a power cut
You can phone 105 to receive information on any power cuts in your region.
There are also a few indicators that can help you discern if there is a power problem in your neighbourhood.
Check if the street lights are on - if not, it’s likely because the local power is down, not just your home.
Check everything has gone off, and not just the lights or appliances - if it is, it could just be one of your trip switches.
Check your prepayment meter hasn’t run out of credit.
Check with a neighbour if they have electricity.
After you have confirmed whether the problem is affecting only your home or also the surrounding area, you can get in touch with your network distributor, who will be able to provide updates.
If you are unsure of your distributor, you can find out here.
What to do when the power goes out
Whole power cuts can in rare circumstances last for days at a time, in most cases they are usually short.
Here are some steps you should take following a power outage.
Keep calm - your distributor will have people working on getting your power back as soon as it is safe for them to do so.
Switch off electric appliances at the plug if it is safe to do so - sometimes, when the network is being fixed, electricity can run in surges.
Keep an eye on your frozen food - if something defrosts it may not be safe to refreeze. Food can generally keep in the freezer for 15-24 hours if you can avoid opening it. For the fridge, it’s around 4-6 hours.
Put your phone on low power mode, remove any apps running in the background and turn down the brightness. Use a car charger if you have access to one.
If you can, leave a light on, so you know when your power is back on.
Wrap up as warm as you can, particularly if the power cut occurs in the evening.
In the event that your power is out for longer than 24 hours in bad weather, you will be owed £70 compensation.
If after 48 hours, the power is still not back on, you will be due an additional £70 for every 12 hours you don’t have electricity, up to a cap of £700.
How to prepare for a potential power cut
Make sure you have a torch handy, as candles can be a fire risk.
Purchase and keep charged a portable battery pack for your phone.
Get some blankets and thick clothes ready in case you need to keep warm.
Make sure you have enough food and drink that doesn’t require electricity to heat it up.
If you rely on anything medically that needs battery power, make sure to chat to your doctor about a potential back up plan. You can also join the Priority service register which will let your supplier know about your medical needs in the event of a power cut.
Keep a plug-in telephone which doesn’t require electricity - most cordless ones will go down in the event of a power outage.
