Power Outage in Spain and Portugal Highlights the Importance of Cash 

In April 2025, a massive power outage swept across Spain and Portugal, leaving millions stranded, unable to pay for essentials, access public transportation, or continue daily routines. Digital payment systems went offline, ATMs stopped working, and mobile networks were unreliable. As the power went out, so did the convenience of card payments, digital wallets, and app-based mobility. 

The incident revealed a hard truth: in a crisis, digital payments can fail, but cash doesn’t. 

The Resilience of Cash 

Digital payments rely on infrastructure: electricity, internet connectivity, servers, mobile networks, and payment gateways. When any of these fail, so does your ability to transact. 

Cash, however, is always “online.” It doesn’t require a signal, battery, or power source. It gives you control when systems are down, allowing you to buy food, get transport, or pay for services when nothing else works. 

3 Smart Ways to Always Keep Cash Handy

1.Carry a Daily Emergency Cash Stash

Keep around €150 in mixed denominations in a small, separate wallet or pouch within your bag or backpack. Avoid keeping it in your main wallet to prevent spending it unintentionally.

2. Store Cash at Home—Smartly

Maintain €200–€300 in a safe but accessible place, like a sealed envelope in a kitchen drawer or a coffee jar in your cupboard. This acts as your backup during extended outages or emergencies.

3. Distribute It

Don’t keep all your cash in one place. Divide it between locations – wallet, bag, jacket pocket, or home. That way, if one stash is lost or stolen, you still have a backup.

Why Businesses Choose apg® Cash Drawers – Even in a Blackout

For retailers and hospitality providers, access to the cash drawer is critical, even if there’s no power. That’s why apg® designs its drawers to be accessible in all scenarios:

• Manual Access in Power Outages

 All apg® drawers can be opened manually, even when disconnected from power. If it’s a drawer with a lock, there is a method to open it safely in an emergency whether the was locked with a key or not.

• High-Security Lockless Models

 apg® also offers high-security drawers without traditional locks to reduce tampering risks. Even in these models, staff can still access the contents via internal emergency release mechanisms, ensuring business continuity in case of system failures.

• Built for Reliability

 apg® drawers are engineered with heavy-duty materials and tested for durability in high-use retail environments, giving retailers peace of mind even in difficult conditions.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Iberian blackout wasn’t just a power failure; it was a wake-up call. Relying solely on digital systems is risky. Whether you’re an individual or a business, cash remains your most dependable backup.

Always carry some. Store it smartly. And if you run a business, make sure your cash drawer, like those from apg®, works when nothing else does.

Because when the lights go out, cash keeps you in control.