🔌 The Grid vs. TikTok: What Would Happen If Power Went Out for a Week?

Stephanie Somerville
Jul 15
2 min read

You wake up. Your phone battery is dead. There’s no WiFi. The fridge is off. You can’t shower, make toast, or even boil the kettle. And it’s only Day 1.

Sounds dramatic? Maybe. But this “what if?” scenario is closer to real life than you might think—and it’s the perfect way to understand how vital the Australian power industry is to life as we know it.

In this blog, we take you through a day-by-day breakdown of what a full-scale power outage could look like—and the real jobs that help keep our grid up and running.

⚡ Day 1: The Silence

No alarms. No phone charge. No TikTok scroll. No toast, no traffic lights, no touch-on at the train station. You head to school and it’s chaos—no bells, no lights, and no idea what’s happening.

Who’s working behind the scenes?

Systems Planning Engineers who forecast future energy needs and ensure the grid can handle the load.
Grid Control Operators monitoring the grid and rerouting power if needed.

⚠️ Day 3: Real-Life Impact

No fridges means spoiled food. Hospitals and emergency services are using backup generators. Fuel pumps don't work. People are lining up for water and food.

Who’s solving these problems?

Maintenance Technicians physically repairing failed lines or transformers.
Power Systems Engineers checking where the breakdowns are, using remote diagnostics and thermal imaging drones.

🔄 Day 4: Rebuild and Recovery

Portable generators are being deployed. Renewable energy plants (like solar farms) are being brought online where possible. Teams are working around the clock to bring power back to priority areas.

Who’s leading the charge?

Grid Connection Engineers integrating solar and wind into the grid safely.
Network Delivery Engineers planning emergency reroutes and reconnecting communities.

🌞 Day 5: Power’s Back, But Questions Remain

Power is restored—but now people are asking:

How do we prevent this again?
What careers exist to help modernise the grid?
Is this an opportunity to build back greener?

Who’s answering?

Policy analysts, energy economists, and data scientists in the energy transition space.
And maybe… you, in the future.

💡 Why It Matters

This hypothetical scenario might sound extreme, but power outages—caused by storms, cyber threats, or old infrastructure—do happen. Behind every light switch is a network of people with very real, very cool jobs making sure Australia runs.

Whether you're into tech, fixing things, problem-solving, or saving the planet, there’s a power career that fits you.

👉 Learn More:

Check out these real job spotlights: