»In which I am power-less (Part I)

PG&E has a really nice automated, voice-driven system for reporing electric (and gas) outages, available through 800 743 5002. They even offer wakeup calls, should the power outage last through the night (ours did).

They also have a Dashboard Widget. Then again, who does'n't?

We used candles, rotary-dial telephones (ah, power from the CO), and could'n't light the stove.

Significant power outages happen all too often in our neighbourhood. We have lost power thrice in the past two weeks, but on the previous occasions for less than half an hour each time. Tell-tale signs: the clock on the range is blinking furiously, but the UPS units have not yet begun wailing.