Darkness ascends London. Image by Tim Sandle

London faces the lowest risk of energy blackouts in the UK, a new study finds. The Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland Islands face the greatest risk of energy blackouts, topping UK charts for both customer interruptions and time spent without power. 

A new study by QR Code Generator has revealed that the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles face the highest risk of energy blackouts in the UK. The research analysed official data from Ofgem to identify which regions experience the most frequent and longest power outages. 

The UK regions most vulnerable to power cuts 

Rank  Distribution network operator  Operator  Approximate coverage area  Customer interruptions  Customer minutes lost  Score  1  SSEH    Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks  Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland Islands  56.64  65.56  0.10  2  NPgY  Northern Powergrid  Yorkshire area (Leeds, Sheffield, York, Hull)  55.21  53.49  1.37  3  SSES  Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks  Southern England (Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, parts of West Sussex & Surrey)  51.27  57.58  1.43  4  SWEST  National Grid Electricity Distribution  Bristol, Exeter, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset  57.52  46.86  1.73  5  NPgN  Northern Powergrid  Northeast England (Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland)  48.61  49.48  2.47 

According to the findings, the Scottish & Southern Energy Hydro (SSEH), which covers the Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland Islands, has the worst overall reliability score in the UK – just 0.10 out of 10. The area has the highest frequency of power cuts, with an average of 56.64 customer interruptions, and the longest outages, with customers experiencing an average of 65.56 minutes without power. 

Northern Powergrid Yorkshire (NPgY), covering the Yorkshire area including major cities like Leeds, Sheffield, York and Hull, ranks second among the regions most susceptible to blackouts. With 55.21 customer interruptions and 53.49 minutes lost, Yorkshire received a low reliability score of 1.37, making it the second-most vulnerable region in Britain for power cuts. 

Southern England residents served by Scottish & Southern Energy Southern (SSES), covering areas such as Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and parts of West Sussex and Surrey, experience the third-highest risk of blackout. The region sees an average of 51.27 customer interruptions and 57.58 minutes lost, resulting in a reliability score of 1.43. 

South West England, operated by National Grid Electricity Distribution, covering Bristol, Exeter, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, is the fourth-most likely region to experience blackouts. This area records the second-highest customer interruption rate at 57.52, though with shorter outage times of 46.86 minutes lost, resulting in a reliability score of 1.73. 

The Northeast England region, managed by Northern Powergrid North East (NPgN) and covering Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Northumberland, completes the top five most vulnerable areas with 48.61 customer interruptions and 49.48 minutes lost, giving a reliability score of 2.47. 

The UK regions least affected by power outages 

Rank  Distribution network operator  Operator  Approximate coverage area  Customer interruptions  Customer minutes lost  Score  1  LPN  UK Power Networks  Greater London (inner and outer London boroughs)  12.20  11.37  10.00  2  ENWL  Electricity North West  North West England (e.g., Manchester, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire)  26.21  26.80  7.03  3  SPD  SP Energy Networks  Southern Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Central Belt, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway)  32.88  26.23  6.35  4  SPMW  SP Energy Networks  North Wales, Merseyside (Liverpool), Cheshire, parts of Shropshire  31.57  33.43  5.83  5  EMID  National Grid Electricity Distribution  Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire  44.20  26.14  5.11 

On the other hand, Greater London residents experience the fewest power cuts in the UK. London Power Networks (LPN), covering inner and outer London boroughs, records a remarkably low 12.20 customer interruptions and just 11.37 minutes lost, earning a perfect reliability score of 10 out of 10 and making it the most reliable electricity network in Britain. 

North West England, managed by Electricity North West Limited (ENWL) and covering Manchester, Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire, also enjoys one of the most dependable electricity networks in Britain. With just 26.21 customer interruptions and 26.80 minutes lost, the region scored 7.03 for reliability, making it the second-most reliable in the country. 

Residents in Southern Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Central Belt, Borders, and Dumfries & Galloway, benefit from a more reliable electricity supply than their northern Scottish counterparts. SP Distribution (SPD) recorded 32.88 customer interruptions and 26.23 minutes lost, achieving a reliability score of 6.35 and ranking as the third-most reliable region.