A new service means households won’t be left in the dark during power cuts.

UK Power Networks (UKPN), the owner and operator of distribution lines and cables across London, the South-East and the East of England, has unveiled a new helpline to deal with electricity outages and problems.

The company now offers the option of texting people affected by power cuts to give updates about the expected duration of the failure and to keep them in the loop regarding the progress of repairs.

The service includes a 24-hour priority helpline to help customers deal with any particular problems they’re facing.

It aims to cater to vulnerable electricity users by offering them tailored support such as home visits, hot meals, advice and even by keeping their friends and family updated with how they’re doing.

People can even sign up to UKPN’s Priority Services Register, which will provide them with a pack of helpful items such as a plug-in-the-wall torch that automatically switches on when there is a power cut, a glow stick and a place to store emergency medical information.

To sign up to the text update service, users can text POWER and their postcode to 80876.

Alternatively, those affected can call the national phone line (105) to get help during power cuts.