Power disturbances can be very frustrating for homeowners. Sophisticated devices are now found just about everywhere in today’s residences and home offices. The digital clock that flashes 12:00 signals the occurance of a power disturbance that is both an annoyance for the consumer and a concern for the electric utility.

Numerous electronic devices that are highly sensitive to even the slightest power fluctuations are prevalent in the market today. You’ll find these sophisticated electronic devices almost everywhere in both your home and home office:

• Newer appliances in the kitchen and laundry room
• Computers and fax machines in the den and office
• Home entertainment equipment in the family room and living room

All of these items can be affected if anything disrupts the electrical current that powers your home.

Some of the signs of power-related problems are very obvious. Sometimes they happen when a storm knocks a tree onto a power line, or when an animal comes in contact with utility equipment. Other symptoms are more subtle and difficult to track down. You may notice an abundance of "noise" on a cordless phone, or your computer might shut down suddenly for no apparent reason. Lights could even flicker or dim and digital clocks start flashing 12:00. These can all be signs of power quality problems. In fact, any distortion of electricity that causes an electrical device to malfunction or even worse, damages the equipment, is considered a power quality problem.

The causes of these spikes, surges and outages can be traced to acts of nature (storms, animal contact), or they can occur when a neighbor or nearby business uses electricity. Some can even occur as part of the normal operation of your electric utility’s equipment. But in many cases, the causes of these disturbances lies within your own home. Your wiring, outlets, and how you have appliances plugged in can all play a role.