TLDR: During a blackout, all electrical power stops immediately. Lights go out, appliances shut down and communication systems struggle as millions of people lose their electricity at the same time. The outage happens when the grid loses balance between power generation and demand. The result is automatic shutdowns that can spread across entire regions within a matter of seconds. Most blackouts last a few hours while utility companies work to restore power in stages. However, severe weather or equipment damage can prolong outages for days or even weeks.
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