{"id":3515,"date":"2026-03-04T13:23:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edilo.com.ua\/blog\/how-sole-proprietors-can-operate-during-blackouts\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T09:50:41","slug":"how-sole-proprietors-can-operate-during-blackouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edilo.com.ua\/en\/blog\/how-sole-proprietors-can-operate-during-blackouts\/","title":{"rendered":"How Sole Proprietors Can Operate During Blackouts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In November 2025, 58% of Ukrainian businesses suspended operations<\/a> due to widespread power outages. According to OpenDataBot, more than 30,000 sole proprietorships closed<\/a> in December alone\u2014and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. At the same time, the government has launched a state aid program for sole proprietors offering up to 15,000 UAH, and inverter systems are becoming more affordable. In this article, we\u2019ll explain how to get government support, choose the right equipment, and keep your business running even without power. <\/p>\n\n

What Are Blackouts and How Do They Affect Sole Proprietorships?<\/h2>\n\n

During the first half of 2025, Russia attacked the Ukrainian power grid more than 61 times<\/a>. Every business owner felt the consequences: according to NBU estimates, the electricity shortage in December 2025\u2013January 2026 reached record levels for the entire period of the full-scale invasion. The forecast for the first quarter of 2026 is a 12% shortage, which means regular power outages lasting 8\u201312 hours a day<\/a>. The geographic data confirms the scale of the problem: according to the SvitloBot<\/a> service, Uzhhorod is without power 13.4% of the time, Kyiv 10.2%, and Rivne 10.3%. <\/p>\n\n

Large businesses are adapting by adjusting their schedules, but for sole proprietors, every power outage is a threat to their very existence. According to the Institute for Economic Research, microbusinesses lose up to 14% of their working hours due to blackouts\u2014three times more than large companies. In regions near the front lines\u2014Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Zhytomyr Oblasts\u2014this figure reaches 20\u201328%.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

Financial pressure is mounting on both sides. The cost of electricity for businesses rose by 60%<\/a> between November 2025 and February 2026. Those who have switched to generators are paying three times as much as they would for grid electricity. According to a survey by the European Business Association, 61% of companies<\/a> reported an increase in production costs, 58% changed their work schedules, and 50% cut back on production volumes. Industrial output fell by 2.4%<\/a> in 2025, and in December, the decline accelerated to 3.5% year-over-year. <\/p>\n\n

See also: <\/em><\/strong>How to Adapt Your Business Strategy to Economic Cycles: Financial Flexibility as a Tool for Resilience<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

Key Challenges for Sole Proprietors During Power Outages<\/h3>\n\n

Every power outage sets off a chain reaction of problems that often proves critical for small businesses:<\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. Forced downtime\u2014the cash register isn\u2019t working, the POS terminal is turned off, and customers are going to competitors with backup power. A bakery that can\u2019t bake bread in the morning loses its entire day\u2019s revenue. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Spoiled goods\u2014for grocery stores, pharmacies, and cafes, every hour without refrigeration means direct losses. Medications that require specific storage temperatures must be written off after the very first prolonged power outage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Failure to meet obligations to partners\u2014without the internet and electricity, it is impossible to process orders, process payments, or ship goods. A courier service without access to CRM brings the logistics chain to a halt. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Rising generation costs\u2014one day of generator operation costs the facility approximately 15,000 UAH<\/a>. For small businesses, the costs are proportionally lower, but the relative strain on their budget is significantly higher, since their revenue is also lower. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Competitive inequality\u2014businesses that have invested in backup power operate without interruptions and are poaching customers from those who still rely on the grid.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    \u041a\u0443\u043f\u0443\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0437\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0437 \u2013 \u0441\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0447\u0443\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0456\u043c<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t