When the digital display on your clock, VCR or microwave oven is blinking, it usually means you've experienced a momentary power outage - a very brief interruption of your service that lasts no more than a few seconds.

We often hear from customers who report these outages because they think something is wrong with our system or with their home's electrical wiring. While these interruptions can be frustrating, they are a valuable indication that our electric system is working properly and preventing even longer or more serious power outages.

When a car hits a utility pole or high winds, lightning, tree branches or animals damage the electric system, automatic breakers - like the circuit breakers in your home - briefly interrupt power in an effort to check the system. This interruption helps prevent long-term outages.

To minimize the effects of momentary power outages and to give you some extra peace of mind, we recommend the following steps:

• When buying electronic equipment, look for devices that have a battery back-up.



• Personal computer users might want to periodically save or back-up their data to a disk to prevent a loss of information.



• Invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). During a momentary power outage, the UPS will continue to provide power to your personal computer for a period of time. (A UPS is not designed to operate your computer indefinitely - only long enough for you to save your work and shut down the computer properly.)