Last updated 7 October 2026
Short answer: getting your electrics ready for a North East winter means four things: make sure circuits can take the extra heating load, protect outdoor supplies from wind and rain, know what to do in a storm power cut, and get any warning signs fixed before the dark months. Homes and small businesses face the same risks, but businesses also have a legal duty to keep their electrical systems maintained. This guide covers both.
If you just want a one page list to tick off, use our printable 10 point winter checklist. This page explains the reasons behind each check.
Why winter is hard on electrics in the North East
Three things change at once. Demand goes up, with heaters, tumble dryers, electric blankets and lights running for longer. The weather gets into places it should not, with wind driven rain on outdoor fittings and condensation in lofts, garages and sheds. And storms bring power cuts, which test how ready a home or business is to cope without power and then restart safely. None of this needs expensive upgrades. It needs a look round before the first storm.
Part 1: getting a home ready
Heating load and portable heaters
Plug heaters straight into a wall socket, never into an extension lead. Electrical Safety First’s portable heater guidance also says to keep a heater at least one metre from curtains, furniture and paper, and not to use one overnight or leave it unattended. If you find you are running heaters in the same rooms every winter, a permanent solution is safer than a row of plugs.
Spread heavy loads across the day. A tumble dryer, oven and heater all on the same socket circuit can trip a breaker or overheat a worn connection. A plug or socket that feels warm after an hour of use is a sign to stop and have it checked.
The consumer unit
Look at the outside only. Check the cover is intact, the labels are readable and nothing is scorched or discoloured. Press each RCD test button: the Scottish Government’s statutory guidance for landlords treats this as a six monthly check, so autumn is a good time for one of them. If an RCD will not trip on test, or your board has no RCDs at all, have an electrician look at it before winter rather than after a fault.
Damp, condensation and leaks
Check lofts, under stairs cupboards, garages and outbuildings for damp near cables, fittings and junction boxes. A dehumidifier is fine in a damp room away from electrics. If water is near anything electrical, do not touch it. Electrical Safety First’s advice after flooding is to switch off at the consumer unit only if it is safe to do so, avoid mains appliances until a registered electrician says they are safe, and keep away from exposed wiring.
Rodents in lofts and outbuildings
Mice and rats move indoors in cold weather and chew cable sheathing. Look for droppings, nesting material and gnawed cables in the loft, behind appliances and in garages. Seal entry gaps and set traps, but do not touch damaged cable: have it repaired properly, not taped.
Outdoor supplies, lights and garden buildings
Outdoor sockets should have covers that close fully. Light fittings should be sealed, with no water visible inside the lens. Cables to sheds, garages and garden offices should be protected and undamaged where they leave the house. Unplug garden equipment and store it dry for winter. An RCD that trips every time it rains usually points to water getting into an outdoor fitting or cable, which an electrician can trace.
Older wiring under winter load
Rubber insulated cable, lead sheathed cable and fabric covered flex all turn up in older homes and can crack or break down with age. Heavy winter loads find weak connections. Whether a house needs rewiring depends on its condition rather than its age, and an inspection is how you find out. If it does, our house rewiring service in Aberdeen explains the process and costs.
Part 2: storms and power cuts
What to do when the power goes off
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) runs the local network in the north of Scotland, including Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Their power cut advice is:
- Check whether your neighbours have power. If they do, the problem is probably inside your property.
- Check your consumer unit for any switch in the off position.
- If the power is off everywhere, call 105 free from a landline or mobile to report it.
- Switch off electrical appliances, leave one light switched on so you know when power returns, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed.
If you depend on electricity for medical equipment, or need extra help, ask SSEN about its Priority Services Register before winter.
When the power comes back
Switch appliances back on one at a time rather than all at once. If the main switch or an RCD trips as soon as power returns, something on the circuit has a fault; unplug appliances and try again. If it still trips, leave it off and call an electrician.
Fallen lines and storm damage
Treat any fallen or low hanging power line as live. Stay well clear, keep others away and report it to SSEN on 105. Never try to move branches or debris touching a line, and never trim trees near overhead lines yourself.
Surge protection
Storms and switching on the network can cause brief voltage spikes that damage electronics. A surge protection device (SPD) fitted at the consumer unit reduces that risk. For a single dwelling the owner can choose to decline an SPD, and that decision is recorded on the certificate. If you have expensive equipment or work from home, it is worth discussing when your board is next changed.
Part 3: getting a small business ready
Your legal duty
Employers are covered by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Regulation 4(2) requires electrical systems to be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. The regulations do not set a fixed testing interval, but Electrical Safety First recommends periodic inspection and testing of a business at least every 5 years, and your insurer or landlord may ask for a current report.
Winter checks for shops, offices and workshops
- Heating: plug portable heaters into wall sockets, not leads, and switch them off at closing time.
- Outdoor lighting and signs: check car park, yard and sign lighting before the dark evenings, and look for water inside fittings.
- Emergency lighting: make sure routine tests are up to date and any failed fittings are reported.
- Distribution boards: keep them clear of stock and storage, labelled, and locked where staff should not reach them.
- Power cut plan: know where the main isolator is, who can switch it off, and which equipment must be restarted in a set order.
- Portable equipment: take damaged leads and extension reels out of use straight away.
Regular checks are easier to manage as a plan than as callouts. Our planned electrical maintenance for businesses page explains what a planned maintenance arrangement covers.
When to call an electrician before winter
- A breaker or RCD trips more than once, or trips in wet weather.
- A socket, plug or switch is warm, buzzing or scorched.
- Lights flicker or dim when heavy appliances start.
- There is damp or water near electrics, or cables have been chewed.
- You have no RCDs, or an RCD fails its test.
Intermittent faults are hardest to find when the weather is at its worst, so get them traced early. Our electrical fault finding in Aberdeenshire guide shows how we track down trips and intermittent faults.
Frequently asked questions
What electrical checks should I do before winter?
Test your RCDs with the test button, check plugs, leads and sockets for heat or damage, look for damp and rodent damage in the loft and outbuildings, check outdoor fittings are sealed, and make sure you can find the consumer unit and a torch in the dark.
Who do I call in a power cut in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire?
Call 105, which is free from a landline or mobile and puts you through to SSEN, the local network operator. First check whether neighbours have power and whether any switch in your consumer unit is off, because a tripped switch is something an electrician, not the network, will need to look at.
Is it safe to use a portable heater on an extension lead?
No. Electrical Safety First advises against powering a heater from an extension lead because the lead can easily be overloaded. Plug it directly into a wall socket.
Why does my RCD trip when it rains?
Usually because water is getting into an outdoor socket, light, junction box or cable, creating a small leakage to earth. Keep the RCD off on that circuit if it will not reset and have the outdoor wiring checked.
How often does a business need an electrical inspection in Scotland?
The law requires electrical systems to be maintained to prevent danger but does not fix an interval. Electrical Safety First recommends at least every 5 years for a business, and some premises and insurers need more frequent checks.
Do I need surge protection?
It is not compulsory for a single dwelling, where the owner can decline it, but it is worth considering if you have expensive electronics or rely on equipment to work from home. It is usually fitted at the consumer unit.
Get ready before the first storm
Call us on 07304 027013 or use our contact page to book a visit. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. For a power cut, call 105.
