Power cuts and blackouts
On beeready, a Power loss over a large area for more than 24 hours, so water, phones, payments and transport are affected too.Power loss over a large area for more than 24 hours, so water, phones, payments and transport are affected too.Power cuts and blackouts means a widespread power cut lasting more than Status: Verified.
Power cut or blackout?
| Power cut | Blackout | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Your street or part of town | Several regions, the whole country, sometimes neighbouring countries |
| Duration | A few hours | More than 24 hours, possibly several days |
| Warning beforehand | Usually not, unless the cut is announced | No |
| What stops | Lights and appliances | Power, then water pressure in flats, mobile and internet, card payments, fuel stations, traffic lights and heating |
| What to do | Wait, check your fuse box, and call your grid operator if it lasts. | Use your 72-hour kit. Follow the radio (RTL, 100.7) and LU-Alert. |
Power cut
- Area:
- Your street or part of town
- Duration:
- A few hours
- Warning beforehand:
- Usually not, unless the cut is announced
- What stops:
- Lights and appliances
- What to do:
- Wait, check your fuse box, and call your grid operator if it lasts.
Blackout
- Area:
- Several regions, the whole country, sometimes neighbouring countries
- Duration:
- More than 24 hours, possibly several days
- Warning beforehand:
- No
- What stops:
- Power, then water pressure in flats, mobile and internet, card payments, fuel stations, traffic lights and heating
- What to do:
- Use your 72-hour kit. Follow the radio (RTL, 100.7) and LU-Alert.
How official sources define a blackout
The meaning depends on the source. Grid operators use "blackout" for a technical failure; household guides usually mean a widespread, prolonged outage. In wartime, it can also mean hiding lights.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg's household guide describes a nationwide outage lasting Status: Verified, including one caused by a hybrid attack or war.
EU grid rules
A grid is in "blackout state" when it has stopped operating: more than Status: Verified of demand is lost in one operator's area, or there is no voltage at all for at least Status: Verified, which sets off the restoration plans. The definition sets no duration. The Iberian outage of Status: Verified was officially classed as a Status: Verified incident: a blackout.
Germany
Germany's civil-protection office describes a blackout as a prolonged outage over a large area. The grid agency also stresses widespread, unpredictable effects. There is no fixed duration. One civil-protection expert uses more than Status: Verified across several districts. Under that definition, a Berlin outage lasting Status: Verified within one district would not qualify.
Austria
Tyrol's regional government uses "blackout" for a grid collapse lasting several days across multiple regions or countries. A few hours without power in one street or part of town is a local power cut. During an Too little electricity over a long time, usually foreseeable weeks ahead. Power is still there, but less of it.Too little electricity over a long time, usually foreseeable weeks ahead. Power is still there, but less of it.Power cuts and blackouts, power is still available, but there is not enough of it.
Switzerland
The federal civil-protection office defines a blackout as a complete collapse of a grid's power supply. It groups outage scenarios by duration: considerable (about Status: Verified), major (Status: Verified) and extreme (Status: Verified). An electricity shortage is a separate hazard, usually foreseeable weeks ahead, that can last Status: Verified.
Everyday English
In everyday English, "blackout" can mean any total loss of power. "Rolling blackouts" are Cuts that rotate from area to area, so each area loses power for a set time, used as a last resort.Cuts that rotate from area to area, so each area loses power for a set time, used as a last resort.Power cuts and blackouts that rotate between areas. One large US grid operator uses these as a last resort, cutting power to each area for about Status: Verified. A brownout means reduced voltage, often during high demand.
Wartime
In wartime, "blackout" has an older meaning: Switching off lights and closing curtains during an attack or air threat.Switching off lights and closing curtains during an attack or air threat.Power cuts and blackouts. Lithuania's defence guide, without using the word, tells people to turn off the lights and close the curtains in an enemy attack or air threat.