When the power suddenly shut off for tens of millions of people across Spain and Portugal on Monday, many faced a series of unexpected conundrums. To figure out what was going on – and learn whether the outage was limited to their building, street, or something much bigger – some turned to their phones, only to realise that the networks were down.
With no access to TV or the internet, there was soon a rush to buy battery-powered analogue radios, but even this was not simple. With digital payment systems down, the only way to pay for them was with cash, and the only way to get cash was through cash machines – which were also out of order.
It was a confusing and chaotic demonstration of just how deeply dependent we have become on the electricity grid. Beyond the breakdown in access to information and electronic payments, other critical infrastructure also collapsed. Entire industries seized up as factories and supply chains were…
