Emergency and Backup Power Sources: Preparing for Blackouts and Brownouts provides invaluable information on emergency and backup power sources, as we deal with an aging power distribution system that often fails to provide reliable power. The massive power outage in the summer of 2003 that affected eight states and parts of Canada exemplifies the importance of this topic. You will find much useful information on the types of systems that can take over during power interruptions, such as standby power systems that employ batteries, kinetic energy storage, fuel cells, reciprocating engines, and turbines. Topics include power disturbances and interruptions, spikes and noise, sags and surges, surge suppression, voltages regulation, load management, power quality issues, reliability and maintainability, comparison of operating costs, environmental issues, blackout planning, emergency procedures, and more.