Here are some tips on using your electricity safely:

Consumer units
Various types of electrical consumer units or fuse boards are available. They all work in a similar way, with a main isolator (on/off) switch and possibly a trip switch (residual current device or RCD).

The unit will contain either fuses or miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) controlling the individual circuits that
supply electricity to your home, for example to lights and sockets. These will be labelled to show which fuse or MCB controls which circuit.

If you have a total loss of power

1. Check that it’s not because of a power cut or lack of credit on a prepay meter.
2. Turn off all circuits if controlled by MCBs. Do not remove fuses.
3. Reset the trip switch to the ‘on’ position and reset each MCB in turn.
4. If the loss of power is due to a faulty circuit, that MCB switch will ‘trip’ (turn off) when you try to turn it on again. If this happens, or if a fuse has blown, call us immediately on 01952 217217 so that a qualified electrician can come and sort it out.

Loss of power to sockets
If your sockets don’t work but other circuits are OK, it may be because one of your appliances has tripped the trip switch.

• Unplug all appliances and then follow steps 2 and 3 above
• If all your circuits come back on, begin plugging your appliances back in one by one
• If one of your appliances is faulty it will trip the switch again and you’ll need to repair or replace this appliance
• If the circuit breaker won’t reset with all appliances unplugged, call us on 01952 217217 as there may be a fault with the circuit

Loss of power to your lights
If all or part (e.g. upstairs or downstairs) of your lighting circuits lose power an individual circuit breaker may have tripped or a light bulb may have blown.
If controlled by MCBs, reset the tripped MCB, test each light switch and replace any blown light bulbs.
Don’t remove fuses from the consumer unit and contact us on 01952 217217 if your lighting MCB won’t reset.