Rota Load Disconnections

RLD is a series of planned and managed power cuts impacting certain regions of the country, known as Alpha Identifiers or rota blocks.

This will be enacted by the Government under the Electricity Supply Emergency Code (ESEC), coordinated by National Grid.

RLD will be implemented as an absolute last resort and the government and National Grid will ensure they have done everything possible to avoid turning customers off power.

It is very unlikely that Rota Load Disconnections will happen, however they may be enacted if power generation is unable to meet demand.

Under emergency powers the government are able to introduce RLD as a way to reduce demand in a managed and coordinated way which will ultimately reduce the impacts on customers across the UK.”

It is still too early to say if Rota Load Disconnections will take place, but if they do, there will be news and media coverage.

You will also hear from us via email or text closer to the time should these events take place.

Homes and Streets are connected to the grid, which is broken up into blocks. This connection is given a code known as a ‘Rota Block’ or ‘Alpha Block’.

Breaking up the network into blocks helps the electricity networks to manage emergency power cuts fairly.

All Block letters are static and will not change unless you move house. It is based on where you live and how your electricity is supplied.

Everyone sharing the same Block Letter will experience the same power cut as per the Rota.

You can find your block letter on your energy bill that is provided to you by your energy supplier.

Alternatively, you can visit the 105 website, enter your postcode, and it will inform you of your Block Letter.

If your property is new, your postcode may not return a result. We recommend searching a nearby postcode to gain your letter (although we cannot be 100% certain that this is accurate).

After the government approves that an RLD will need to take place, they will inform Network Operators.

GTC, where possible, will be proactively informing our customers by email and SMS text in advance of any planned power cut. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, however this could be up to 6 hours before.

Further information around RLD will be shared to the public across platforms such as, the Media, News, TV and Radio. GTC will also endeavour to update our customers via SMS, email and on our website.

The 105 Website will publish a confirmed Emergency Power Cut Rota plan at 18:00 the day before it is implemented that will apply for the following day.

Although it cannot be guaranteed what time these events will occur, they will likely occur during high demand peaks (16:00-19:00).

It depends on the extent of the energy shortage and information will be available in National Media.

It is expected in most scenarios that any losses of supply would be scheduled to last for 3 hours to minimise the impact on customers.

There are some steps you can take to prepare for a power outage. For more information, please view our Help and Advice page here.

We appreciate that some customers may have additional requirements and need priority treatment.  These customers may rely on electricity for a variety of reasons such as: being disabled, being of pensionable age, or having a chronic illness.

We offer a Priority Service Registration scheme, which means that we will inform you in advance of any planned interruptions and we will make every effort to contact you proactively when we have an unplanned interruption.

We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, however, GTC would always recommend that you seek your health care providers recommendations. They are best placed to provide you with medical advice and should help you prepare and put plans and measures in place.

If you do have concerns, read our ‘How to prepare advice’ or alternatively call a member of our team, who are available 24/7, and they will be able to assist you.

National emergency measures, along with Ofgem’s Guaranteed Standards of Performance mean that customers will not be due compensation.