Homeowners in Scotland and Yorkshire are most likely to face the coldest and darkest winters due to power cut disruptions, according to analysis from eXp UK.
The firm examined Ofgem data on electricity distribution performance, assessing how frequently customers experience power interruptions and how long they are left without supply across each network area.
The research found that the North of Scotland recorded the highest number of customer interruptions (CI) at 59.69 per 100 customers, followed by Yorkshire at 59.32. South Eastern England ranked third with 54.55, ahead of the South West (49.49) and the North East (46.92).
Other regions with above-average disruption included the West Midlands (46.38), Central Southern England (45.56), South Wales (43.95), and Eastern England (42.77).
Central and Southern Scotland also reported notable disruption at 36.29 interruptions per 100 customers.
The most reliable areas were Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales with 30.29 interruptions, followed by the North West at 26.58 and London at 11.65 – making the capital the most dependable region for power supply.
While all areas performed within Ofgem’s target thresholds, eXp UK’s analysis revealed a clear divide between rural and urban regions, with more remote areas experiencing higher rates of disruption.
When assessing customer minutes lost (CML), the North of Scotland again saw the longest outages, averaging 59.24 minutes without power.
Yorkshire followed with 52.12 minutes, while Central Southern England averaged 49.30.
The North East (44.01), South West (39.34) and South East (38.82) performed close to target, while the East Midlands (21.90), Central and Southern Scotland (25.43) and London (12.19) saw power restored fastest.
Adam Day, head of eXp UK and Europe, said: “Electricity is not only vital for our homes, but many now have heating systems that rely entirely on electric power.
“This means that power cuts can make for a long, dark and cold winter for many households.
“While it’s understandable that more rural and remote areas face greater challenges in maintaining consistent supply, it’s worth being aware of how your region performs, particularly if you’re buying a home.
“For buyers, this kind of insight can be invaluable when weighing up quality of life factors that go beyond just price and postcode.”
