I believe they're more so the result of "brown outs" as the power companies attempt to "proactively" deal with extremely high loads. Given your message, I guess it does make sense for the power companies to first inconvenience business customers that 1) use a substantial amount of resources and 2) already have alternative method of supporting themselves. Of course, I'd guess there's considerable ground for objection to this model. -danny

In a conversation with an MFS engineer today I mentioned the problems in the Bay area. He previously worked for SNET (Southern New England Telephone, now part of SBC) for many years and said it was standard practice for them to disconnect COs from the grid and run off generator power for hours or even a day or two during the summer season.

I was under the impression that these power shortages were the result of less over-engineering on the part of power companies due to deregulation but maybe this isn't such a new situation after all?