Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica ruled out a cyber attack on Tuesday, which was responsible for the power outage in the Iberian Peninsula as it saw three people die due to power outages.
La Voz de Galicia regional newspapers and Europa news agency reported that three family members died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the small town of Taboadela, northwest Spain.
The victims were a married couple aged 81 and 77 years old, and their 56-year-old son. The oldest member of the family needs a ventilator.
When the power supply fails, the gasoline-powered emergency generator is turned on, but its exhaust smoke is apparently spreading throughout the house.
Cyberattacks are ruled out
Grid operator Red Eléctrica ruled out a cyber attack, referring to an analysis conducted by the country’s intelligence agencies.
“Since yesterday, we have been supported by Incibe [National Cybersecurity Institute] and CNI [National Intelligence Centre]this morning, we concluded that the red Eléctrica control system could lead to this event.
At the same time, Spanish media expressed concern about the future.
“We’re not holding our breath anymore, but the biggest question is: Will it happen again? What would happen if something like this lasts longer in the future?” commentator on NBC RTVE asked Tuesday morning.
Doctors in Madrid describe the power outage as a “disturbing trip back to the Stone Age” on broadcaster Cadena Ser.
By Tuesday, the power of both countries had been largely restored. Red Eréctrica said about 99.16% of the electricity supply was as of 6 a.m. GMT (0400).
Broadcaster RTP reported on Tuesday that in neighboring Portugal, electricity has also been restored to most households. RTP reported that about 95% of the country’s 6.5 million customers have resumed the grid.
Millions of people in Spain and Portugal were left in the dark on Monday as electricity went out, communication networks were interrupted, traffic lights stopped working and lifts were in trouble.
Interruptions in both countries also damaged underground and train services and resumed on Tuesday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not mention the cause of the power outage in his TV speech on Monday night, but said it was not possible to be excluded.
Power grid system operator Prieto told the news media that the disconnection of the French European power grid was the cause of the collapse of the Iberian Peninsula.
The political impact of power outages
Despite the return to normal, both Spain and Portugal’s governments announced a crisis meeting on Tuesday to assess the situation.
In Spain, the meeting was chaired by King Felipe VI. Afterwards, Sanchez said, “This will definitely not happen again!”
The Prime Minister announced that he would hold private suppliers accountable for the supply system. Miguel Tellado, a spokesman for the Conservative BJP in Parliament, said in an interview with RTVE that Sánchez did not provide an explanation for what happened even after three public appearances, and that no one was responsible.
He said the government must ultimately provide an explanation and assume responsibility after more than 24 hours. Tellado also expressed concern that the government “don’t know” what caused the power outage.
Brussels’ reaction
The European Commission in Brussels regrets a fake news article, whose head Ursula von der Leyen’s constituent offer incorrectly links the interruption to the attack.
“On this basis, we can really see how far the information can go and the negative impact it can have [have],” a committee spokesman said.
“There was a reaction, and it was thought that it had been intentional attacks, which was obviously bad and could have very serious consequences,” she added.
The committee also dismissed speculation that the high share of renewable energy has led to power outages.
Another committee spokesman said: “Spanish and Portuguese operators are experienced in handling large amounts of renewable energy in their power systems.”
She added that the EU has regulations to ensure “the balance of the power system and its capacity…the generation that absorbs renewable energy”.
Germany learns courses from power outages
In Berlin, outgoing interior minister Nancy Faeser called for better protection of critical infrastructure in the country.
“The scale of power outages in Spain and Portugal may be something we have never seen before,” Faeser told German media group Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.
She said that while the power outages did not affect Germany’s supply security, it is important that “all findings from the use incident continue to ensure the highest security of critical infrastructure, such as German energy supply”.
Faeser calls for the reintroduction of regulations on protecting critical infrastructure in parliament and adoption as soon as possible to implement binding EU law.
