After two storms in the space of two weeks hit Scotland, many across the country have been affected by power cuts.
When Storm Arwen struck in late November, the severe weather left thousands of Scots with outages lasting as long as over a week with some homes in the north of England still without power.
One Scottish energy supplier, SSEN, has reported restoring power to all 135,000 affected homes following Storm Arwen.
Now unfortunately more people are facing power cuts after Storm Barra's gale-force winds and heavy snow.
Outages together with severe weather and freezing temperatures can be dangerous and stressful.
But there are ways to get through the situation and precautions to put into place for future outages.
1. Report the outage
If you're hit by a power cut, get in contact with the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) that covers your area as soon as possible.
It's better to report power cuts to them rather than your energy supplier because energy suppliers just sell electricity.
Your DNO is responsible for physically maintaining electricity supplies and networks.
There are two network suppliers in Scotland: SP Energy Networks and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN).
SP Energy Networks covers central and southern Scotland whilst SSEN covers northern Scotland, the Highlands and islands.
Look up your supplier here.
2. Call 105
You can phone the number 105 to reach a local network operator who can give you help and advice during an outage.
People can also use the number to report dangerous damage to electricity power lines and substations.
105 is a free service, available to people in England, Scotland and Wales.
3. Register vulnerable people on the Priority Services Register
Older and disabled people can be put on the Priority Services Register for power cuts.
The register is a free support service by water and power suppliers for vulnerable people.
It can be vital to get priority support in an emergency if you require electricity for medical or mobility equipment.
4. Get a generator - but use it safely
A word of caution - generators can be very dangerous if used incorrectly.
Generators emit poisonous carbon monoxide gas and therefore must be placed in well-ventilated areas - that means outdoors, away from windows and not inside your home or garage.
That said, even if you're in the midst of an outage, portable generators can help in a crisis.
If you're able to find one in a shop, portable generators can get power up and running in your home.
5. Use a fireplace
If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace, this would be a good time to use it.
But remember to keep the area around it clear, set the fire out before you go to sleep and keep children and pets away.
6. Keep the cold out
Block wintry weather from creeping in by covering the bottom of doors with blankets, towels and clothes.
While you're getting set up, keep internal doors closed to trap heat.
Draught-proofing can be done ahead with adhesive window strips and draught excluders on doors or letterbox brushes or covers.
7. Stay close together
It's vital to conserve heat and one way to do that is for your household to be together in one room.
More people in one room means more heat, so in an extended cut it may be wise to keep together.
8. Layer up
This might be self-explanatory, but layers trap heat best. Layers work as insulation as each one traps air and helps keep you warm.
Multiple layers of clothing will work better against the cold than one thick layer.
Layering up also help prevent from feeling damp and cool as they are better for letting heat escape.
9. Turn on torches and light candles
Here's where having extra torches and batteries becomes very handy.
Torches are safer than candles, but if you don't have any just take care when using candles.
Keep candles on sturdy surfaces and away from anything flammable, plus kids and pets.
10. Keep fridges and freezers closed
You'd be surprised how long food can keep in fridges and freezers during an outage.
Just make sure to keep their doors closed to preserve food as long as possible.
Moving food into the same drawers or areas can help them stay colder for longer.
