Call 999 first if…
- There's smoke or fire
- Someone has had an electric shock and is hurt. Don't touch them until the power is off
Call 105 if…
- The whole street is off, or you see damaged power lines or substation equipment. See power cuts
Call an electrician if…
- You smell burning from a socket, switch or consumer unit. See burning smell
- Your RCD or a breaker trips and won't reset. See resetting a breaker
- Water has got into electrics, for example from a leak or flood
- Sockets or fittings are sparking, scorched or damaged
- A business has lost power to essential equipment and it's not a network fault
Safety first
If it's safe, switch off the affected circuit, or the main switch, at the consumer unit with dry hands. Never touch electrics that are wet, and keep people away from damaged fittings.
Availability
Steve is a one-man business, so availability varies. Call him on 07949 863616 to ask whether he can help and what it would involve. We don't publish response times.
When to call an electrician
For anything on the list above, call first, then send details through the form if you can't get through.
Sources and further reading
- Electrical Safety First – Fire prevention tips
- SSEN – Power cuts and emergencies
- National Grid – Power outage information
- Electrical Safety First – Electrical safety after a flood
General guidance only, based on the sources above. Last reviewed October 2026. It isn't a substitute for an inspection by a qualified electrician.