A fault with broad effects
On 28 April 2025, power failed across almost the entire Iberian Peninsula. According to the report by NIPV and Kennemerland Safety Region, the cause was an overvoltage in the power grid that triggered a chain reaction.
The total recovery time was around 18 hours. By 7.00 am on 29 April, the power supply had been restored for 99.95 percent. That overall figure does not tell the whole story of the local experience. In some areas power returned earlier, in others it lasted until deep into the night.
A power cut of that scale affects more than lighting and refrigeration. In a modern society, payment, transport, communication and access to information are closely linked to electricity. Anyone travelling at that moment, trying to buy groceries or reach family, notices this immediately.
Payment became a local practical problem
Card terminals and till systems were disrupted. In many places, payment was only possible in cash. At the same time, queues formed at cash machines, while those machines also did not work because of the power cut.
That is an important distinction. The problem was not that people had no money. The problem was that the route to that money temporarily did not work. Money in an account only helps at such a moment if the payment terminal, the connection and the processing are available.
For visitors, business owners and residents, that can quickly become uncomfortable. Food, drink, fuel or a taxi are ordinary expenses. When the digital payment route stalls, it becomes clear how dependent daily payments are on power and communication.
Contact did not hold everywhere
Wifi failed immediately. Mobile networks stayed up for a few more hours, then failed in most places. Some providers remained reachable, but that was not the case everywhere.
Dutch speakers surveyed on site mentioned concern about having enough food, drink and cash. Not being able to reach loved ones also played a role. That concern is understandable: uncertainty grows when information is missing and contact is not possible.
The report describes alternative networks and radio communication as valuable. That does not mean every citizen needs a complicated communication system. It does mean that dependence on a single connection is vulnerable, especially when power and mobile networks are affected at the same time.
Transport and planning stalled
Transport was affected too. Trains and metros came to a halt. In Spain, all metros were evacuated at around 3.00 pm. Travellers were sometimes stuck for hours.
If, at that moment, you are trying to reach an appointment, a flight, a hotel or a family member, you need more than a charged phone. A plan considered in advance helps: where do you wait, who makes decisions, which route do you use if public transport stops.
The lesson is not that everything always fails. The lesson is that systems can depend on the same basic services at the same time. If power fails, the route to information, payment and transport can also be interrupted.
Preparation lies in simple choices
The event shows that preparation is not only about emergency supplies. It is also about being reachable, payment options and agreements with the people who matter to you.
Practical preparation starts with questions. Could you work, pay or reach someone for 24 hours without wifi? Does your family know what to do if mobile networks fail? Do you have an alternative to a route that is entirely digital?
No measure works always. An extra connection needs power. A payment card only works if the card network and terminal work. A phone depends on battery and network. That is exactly why it is wise to know several independent routes and test them in advance.
Sovaryn Reserve is one way to reduce this kind of dependence: with satellite internet, your own power supply, a digital reserve under your own control, a hardware wallet and a tested step by step plan. The tools have limitations and remain within applicable rules. Sovaryn personally sets up the equipment and tests it together with the client.
