If in the case of a gas shortage, the state first ensures the supply of gas to residential buildings, then in the case of a shortage of electricity, the situation is the opposite, and residential buildings are the first to be switched off.
Residential areas would not remain without electricity for a long time, but the shutdowns would take place on a rotating basis, every few hours. However, if there is an unexpected power shortage in the network, the lower category consumers would be automatically switched off. The system manager Elering is obliged to ensure the functioning of the electricity system as a whole, and if there is a threat to it, it will be switched off very quickly and based on the technical parameters.
Since, in general, in the case of apartment buildings, the water and heating units are connected to the house's electrical system, they also stop when the electricity goes out.
In electricity supply, with the establishment of vital service requirements, objects on which people's lives and health directly depend are prioritized, i.e. hospitals, nursing homes and alarm centers are in the most priority group, because the alarm center must be accessible by phone 112 and through them calls also come to the police, rescuers, ambulance.
Different industrial enterprises and also places of public gathering - for example, shopping centers, theaters, sports halls - have higher priority than residential buildings. The list of priority companies and institutions is not a public document. The general description is public information, but the exact list of companies cannot be distributed because it is too sensitive information.