If there’s anything that we’ve learned from some of our more recent natural disasters, it’s that our local utility companies often find themselves playing “catch-up” during large scale power outages. They’re doing the best that they can, but it can often be days before power is fully restored to homes and businesses. Customers in rural areas often have it much worse. Power outages are definitely inconvenient for all of us, but sometimes the stakes are higher than losing a freezer full of leftovers. Some people require power to run medical equipment, and an extended outage could literally be a matter of life or death!