Shops and Restaurants Among the Most Affected by the Blackout in Alicante Province

Although it is still early to quantify the economic losses caused by the unprecedented blackout that left the entire peninsula without power, the Confederation of Business Associations of the Valencian Community (CEV) has conducted an initial analysis to identify the sectors most affected by the hours-long power outage.

The business association explained that this blackout had "significant repercussions in several key sectors of the province of Alicante." Among those most affected were commerce and the restaurant industry.

The former was particularly impacted by the lack of electricity. "Areas such as florists, delicatessens, or butcher shops suffered considerable impact as many products could not be sold due to the hours when refrigerators were without power, thus unable to maintain the necessary temperature for preserving raw materials," explained the CEV. The association also noted that the lack of electricity forced many other businesses to close earlier than usual, "resulting in losses and raising questions about compensation."

The case of the restaurant industry is also complicated, as it was one of the most affected, especially in towns celebrating their festivals like San Vicente del Raspeig. The negative consequences were mitigated because Monday "is the rest day for the vast majority of establishments," highlighted the CEV.

Among those who decided to open and encountered the blackout, some opted to close or only serve drinks and cold food, "offering promotions to minimize losses." However, the lack of electricity during peak hours "severely affected establishments that relied on refrigeration and the preparation of hot food," expressed the CEV.

The fact that Monday was a holiday in several towns in the province also helped mitigate the effects suffered by the industry, although those that opened "were affected by having to stop production at the time of the blackout." Among the companies that did work this Tuesday before starting the machinery, "they had to carry out a tune-up to ensure there were no incidents at the time of ignition or breakages," explained the regional business association.

The footwear sector did not record any significant impact, as it was a local holiday in Elche, while other municipalities like Elda "have not reported any incidents so far," asserted the CEV.

The CEV insists that the historic situation experienced on Monday "has highlighted the need to strengthen the electrical infrastructure and ensure continuity of supply in critical situations."