Backup Power News
Will a home battery keep the lights on in a power cut? Are standby generators getting cheaper, and which models run on petrol, diesel or gas? What are the rules on storing fuel at home, and how long can a battery or generator run?
Every backup power story we have reported, newest first: batteries, generators, prices, safety rules and the companies behind them. Each one links to our backup power guides on what it means for you.
- September 2026
Anker SOLIX launches XE all-in-one home energy storage in UK and Ireland
Anker SOLIX has launched the XE, an all-in-one home battery with integrated inverter, in the UK and Ireland through authorised installers, with capacities from 7 kWh to 126 kWh.
- August 2026
Anker SOLIX puts Solarbank 4 Pro on pre-sale in the UK
Anker SOLIX has opened UK pre-sales for its Solarbank 4 Pro at £1,699, with the BP5000 Expansion Battery priced from £1,299, as plug-in solar panels became fully legal on 27th August.
- April 2026
Publication of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026
BSI published BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 on 15 April 2026, adding a chapter on stationary battery storage and giving installers until 15 October 2026 before the previous edition is withdrawn.
- February 2026
SSEN issues Power Cut Plans to more than 150,000 Priority Services customers
SSEN Distribution has issued dedicated Power Cut Plans to more than 150,000 Priority Services customers and begun delivering the first of 20,000 free home battery packs to medically dependent households.
SSEN and Policy in Practice launch partnership to embed PSR eligibility into benefit checks
SSEN and Policy in Practice have embedded Priority Services Register eligibility prompts into the Better Off benefit calculator, so advisers can register eligible households during routine benefit checks.
- January 2026
Ofgem decides to progress automatic compensation under GSOPs 1-3 and defers GSOP 4
Ofgem has confirmed that automatic compensation for three smart meter service failures will go ahead, while a fourth standard covering meters not operating in smart mode is deferred.
SSEN moves to 'Weather Warning' preparedness level ahead of Storm Goretti
SSEN has moved to its first heightened preparedness level in central southern England before Storm Goretti, texting more than 400,000 Priority Services customers as gale-force winds are forecast.
- December 2025
SSEN Distribution announces partnership with Asthma + Lung UK
SSEN Distribution has announced a partnership with Asthma + Lung UK to raise awareness of free Priority Services support for people with lung conditions during power cuts.
SSEN moves to Yellow Alert preparedness status ahead of Storm Bram
SSEN has moved to Yellow Alert preparedness status in the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Bram, with storm-force winds forecast from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
- November 2025
UK Power Networks announces partnership with Diabetes UK to promote Priority Services Register
UK Power Networks has partnered with Diabetes UK to promote its Priority Services Register to customers who depend on electricity for insulin storage and medical equipment.
Valiant radiator fan recalled over fire risk
The Valiant rechargeable radiator fan has been recalled from end users because its lithium-ion polymer battery may fail and catch fire, the Office for Product Safety and Standards said on 7 November 2025.
- October 2025
Fogstar launches Drift 48V 125Ah lithium leisure battery
Fogstar has added a 48V 125Ah lithium leisure battery to its Drift range, with a 150A battery management system, inverter communications, low-temperature heating and a 10-year warranty.
SSEN continues Storm Amy reconnection with over 71,000 restored and 17,000 still off supply
SSEN restored power to all 90,000 homes cut off by Storm Amy, a Category 2 severe weather event, after faults at 750 locations and more than 30,000 free meals served.
- August 2025
SSEN restores power to 50,000 homes following Storm Floris
SSEN restored power to 50,000 homes in northern Scotland by 7:15am on Tuesday 5 August after Storm Floris, with 22,000 properties still off supply.
Storm Floris causes significant damage to SSEN network in northern Scotland
Storm Floris brought an 83mph gust at Wick and left 22,000 properties without power across the Highlands, Moray coast and Aberdeenshire, SSEN said, after restoring 50,000 homes.
- July 2025
Fox ESS launches EPS Box SP whole-home backup gateway
Fox ESS has launched the EPS Box SP, a backup switching device for its single-phase hybrid inverters that it says can keep all household circuits running during a grid outage.
- May 2025
Lithium-ion battery charger recalled from end users
A lithium-ion battery charger sold through TikTok has been recalled from end users after the safety regulator found it presented a serious electric shock risk.
- March 2025
Livoltek lists HP3-5K/6K/8K/10K/12K D2 hybrid inverters
Livoltek has listed the HP3-5K/6K/8K/10K/12K D2, a three-phase hybrid inverter range, in its hybrid product category with a date of 10 March 2025.
- February 2025
SSEN Priority Services Register reaches one million customers
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has signed up its one millionth Priority Services Register customer, saying more of its 3.9 million customers now have tailored support during power outages.
- January 2025
SSEN sets out Storm Éowyn compensation for customers off supply
SSEN has confirmed automatic compensation of £85 for Storm Éowyn outages lasting more than 48 hours, plus £40 for every additional six hours, and its own food and accommodation payments.
SSEN reconnects almost 70,000 customers after Storm Éowyn with restoration continuing
SSEN restored power to 92,000 customers in northern Scotland after Storm Éowyn, with the final homes reconnected on the evening of 29 January 2025.
Emergency Response Plan activated for Storm Éowyn
NIE Networks activated its Emergency Response Plan from 23 January 2025 for Storm Éowyn, suspending normal work and directing resources to incident centres until power was restored.
Payment sums in regulation 8 substituted by S.I. 2024/1166
The sums payable by suppliers under regulation 8 of the Electricity and Gas (Standards of Performance) (Suppliers) Regulations 2015 were substituted with effect from 2 January 2025 by amendment regulations made in 2024.
- December 2024
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status in central southern England ahead of New Year's Day
SSEN raised its preparedness to Weather Warning status in central southern England on 30 December 2024, with gusts of over 50mph inland forecast for New Year's Day and potential damage to the electricity network.
SSEN moves to Yellow Alert status in the north of Scotland
SSEN moved to Yellow Alert in the north of Scotland on 20 December 2024, ahead of weekend gusts forecast to reach 85mph, and has contacted nearly 60,000 Priority Services Register customers.
SSEN restores 82,151 customers following Storm Darragh
SSEN restored supplies to 82,151 customers in central southern England by 7pm on Sunday 8 December after Storm Darragh, with 4,140 properties still off supply and about 900 expected to run into Monday.
Storm Darragh causes widespread power cuts in NGED areas
National Grid Electricity Distribution has confirmed storm payment thresholds were exceeded across its licence areas after Storm Darragh, and has offered some affected customers a one-off goodwill payment on top of guaranteed standards payments.
- November 2024
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status ahead of Storm Bert
SSEN has moved to Weather Warning status ahead of Storm Bert, bringing in extra teams and texting 750,000 Priority Services Register customers before severe weather on 23 and 24 November.
- October 2024
SSEN moves to Weather Warning status ahead of Storm Ashley
SSEN has moved to Weather Warning status across the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Ashley, with gusts of up to 70mph forecast for Sunday 20 and Monday 21 October 2024.
Private Members' Bill on Lithium-ion Battery Safety introduced at second reading
Lord Redesdale has introduced a Private Members' Bill on lithium-ion battery safety in the House of Lords, carrying clauses proposed by Electrical Safety First, with committee stage set for 22 October.