E13: Electricity: When darkness comes

Hi, I’m Alvat Garewal, and welcome back to the podcast.
 Today’s episode is about something we all use, we all depend on, and yet we barely think about… until it’s gone: Electricity.

Are we slaves to electricity?
 Could we function without it?
 Have we gone so far into the digital world that even a short power cut leaves us helpless?

Transcript

Intro:
Hi, I’m Alvat Garewal, and welcome back.
Today’s episode is about something we all use, we all depend on, and yet we barely think about… until it’s gone: Electricity.

A few days ago, I was in Valencia, Spain, with my wife on a short break. The city was alive—beautiful weather, great food, rich culture, and this electric buzz in the air.
 On the third day, while walking around the shops during a vibrant St. Vincent’s Day procession, we experienced something that brought the entire city—and much of Europe—to a standstill.

The Power Cut:
We were browsing a shop when suddenly the lights went out. At first, we didn’t think much of it—maybe just a local outage. But as we stepped out, we noticed shop after shop was shut, because the power was down.
No cooking. No lights. No internet. Metro trains were halted—some even stuck underground. Buses were still running. Suddenly, the city’s shops were dark.

And it wasn’t just Valencia. From conversations with locals and bits of news we managed to gather, this was across the whole of Spain, parts of Portugal, even parts of France.

The Modern Vulnerability:
We went back to the hotel—and that’s when reality hit us.
We had no euros in cash. ATMs weren’t working. Card machines were useless. No one would change our pounds to euros because even currency exchange systems were down.
No lifts in the hotel—and we were staying on the top floor. We had to climb up the pitch dark stairs using the torch on our phones. The hotel had no backup generators. No communication. No plan B.

Think about that:
Years ago, we had battery-powered radios, landline phones that didn’t rely on the main electricity. Now? Everything is digital. Everything is connected. Everything is dependent on electricity.

Slaves to a System?
It made me wonder—are we slaves to electricity?
Could we function without it?
Have we gone so far into the digital world that even a short power cut leaves us helpless?

Speculation was swirling: Was this a cyber attack? A system failure? A test? No one knew.
 And not knowing—that was the worst part.

After about 7 or 8 hours, the power started coming back—but the internet was slow, and many shops stayed closed. Those that did open were overwhelmed. Long queues. Limited food. Not enough staff.

Lessons from the Blackout:
This experience made me rethink a few things—and maybe it’s time we all did. Here are some thoughts:

I should

• Carry cash—in the right currency. You might not always be able to rely on cards or apps.
  
  
  
• Carry a torch—yes, a simple one. Phones die. Batteries drain.
  
  
  
• Have a backup communication method—maybe even an old-school FM radio.
  
  
  
• Don’t assume anything’s permanent—especially systems we take for granted.
  
  
  

We often hear that the future is electric. Roads filled with clean, silent, zero-emission vehicles. And honestly—it’s a great vision. Better air quality, less reliance on oil, a step forward for the environment.

But what happens when the power goes out?

imagine this:

• You wake up in a city that’s gone dark.
  
  
  
• You walk to your electric car… but it’s not charged.
  
  
  
• The chargers don’t work either—no electricity.
  
  
  
• Public transport? Also electric. Trains are stalled. Metros are locked down.
  
  
  
• Petrol stations? Closed. Because fuel pumps also need power.
  
  
  

Suddenly, the future doesn’t feel so futuristic. It feels fragile.

We’ve made electricity our lifeline. But we haven’t always asked the next question: What’s our Plan B?

Electric cars are fantastic—don’t get me wrong. But if we’re going to shift completely, then we must:

• Build resilient and decentralised power systems.
  
  
  
• Invest in backup infrastructure—like solar-powered charging stations with battery storage.
  
  
  
• Keep emergency solutions—like portable generators or hybrid vehicles.
  
  
  
• And most importantly, think beyond convenience and plan for resilience.
  
  
  

Because a society that runs 100% on electricity also needs 100% power reliability.

We can’t afford to build a future on a single point of failure.

The Bigger Picture:
This wasn’t just about electricity. It was about how fragile modern life is when one thing goes down.
If electricity is the backbone of our world… what happens when it breaks?

We spend so much time upgrading our devices, but maybe we should be upgrading our preparedness.

Final Thought:
“So, are we really in control? Or are we just passengers on a system that we trust too much?
We can’t live in fear—but we can live in awareness.
Let this be a reminder that even in a world full of power… one outage can bring us back to basics.

Thanks for tuning in.
 If this episode made you pause and think, share it with someone. Maybe they need a torch too.
 Until next time—stay aware, stay prepared, and as always, you’re in my thoughts.