The topic of power shortages, blackouts and blackouts is more topical in Switzerland and Europe than it has been for a long time. The risk report of the Federal Office for Civil Protection in 2020 already analysed the following hazards, among others: Mobile phone failure, accidents at nuclear power plants or dams, as well as power failures and power shortages. What do power shortages + blackouts mean in Switzerland and what are the effects on critical infrastructures such as warning and alerting systems?

For society, a power shortage situation means that consumption-reducing measures have to be taken. Grocery shops reduce their product selection and shorten operating hours. There are restrictions in social and cultural life, for example by banning electricity-intensive occasions and events. These restrictions can lead to insecurity and dissatisfaction among the population. In the event of a grid shutdown, the everyday life of the population can be severely affected. Prolonged grid failures would result in a restriction of mobility in public transport such as trains and trams. In the event of a total failure, cash register systems, ATMs, petrol stations and certain means of communication can no longer be maintained unless an emergency power system is available.

As the AEZ writes on its website, critical infrastructures such as hospitals, blue-light organisations or prisons are exempt from network shutdowns, provided this is technically possible and feasible. However, operators of critical infrastructures are also encouraged to use their energy-saving potential in the event of a power shortage.

Sirens are crisis-proof warning systems and function perfectly even during long power cuts. Each individual siren is equipped with batteries and guarantees independence from the mains for at least 5 days. This means that the population can be alerted efficiently even in the event of a disaster or power failure, even if other warning systems such as apps or SMS notifications no longer work. However, it is important that old siren models in Switzerland are retrofitted with 18-watt emergency power boxes, as the national Polyalert telecontrol system requires a larger power consumption.

In the case of older siren systems without 18W (Delta-Grau / ET751 / KTG / SES etc.), alerting via the Polyalert telecontrol system can no longer be guaranteed in the event of a power failure. However, manual activation of the siren on site is guaranteed even in the event of a power failure. It is therefore worthwhile to preventively upgrade to the latest siren technology (AT/AT-M). In order to ensure the functionality of the systems, we urgently recommend that the batteries be checked regularly and replaced every 6 years. A loud warning of danger can save lives and reduce property damage. Therefore, critical warning devices must function at all times, even in the event of a blackout.