Guide
What’s my rota letter, and where do I find it?
The short answer
It’s a letter on your electricity bill, usually near your meter details. It shows which rota block your home is in. If rotating power cuts were ever needed, the blocks would take turns, and your letter would tell you when yours was off. If you can’t find it, your electricity supplier can tell you.
What the letter is for
If there isn’t enough power for everyone, areas take turns to be switched off, so the whole system doesn’t fail. These are called rotating power cuts. Great Britain’s plan for them, the Electricity Supply Emergency Code, divides homes and businesses into rota blocks, each shown by a letter.
The Code’s schedule uses 18 letters: A to U, without F, I and O. SSEN’s map also shows the letter O in large parts of the north of Scotland, and we’re checking what that means for those homes. Letter V marks protected sites, which aren’t cut.
Where to find it
- Look on your electricity bill, usually near your meter details.
- Can’t see it? Ask your electricity supplier, who can tell you.
- Write it down, or add it to Grid Alert, so you have it when you need it.
What would happen in rotating power cuts
Since August 2026, NESO can start rotations itself under the Demand Control Rotation Protocol. Reports say it gives about 8 hours’ notice and keeps each block off for up to about 3 hours. The times are published block by block, so your letter tells you which ones are yours.
Rotating power cuts are rare, and most winters nothing like this happens. See what NESO says about this winter.
A different thing: local power cuts
Most power cuts are local faults or storm damage, and rota letters have nothing to do with them. If your power goes off, call 105, free from any phone in England, Scotland and Wales.
If someone at home relies on powered medical equipment, join your network operator’s free Priority Services Register.
Be the first to know
Grid Alert turns NESO’s official warnings into one clear status for your home. It’s coming this winter, free on Android and iPhone.
Email when live