It often happens in August, triggered by storms or too many air conditioners working at once. You're fixing dinner when, all of a sudden, the lights go out, your stir-fry stops sizzling on the stove and the refrigerator quits humming. You try to turn on the TV news and find yourself staring at a blank screen.

If you're thinking, "It won't happen to me," consider this: The average square mile in the United States takes 8 to 11 lightning strikes per year. Electric lines can be damaged during any storm or even when struck by an out-of-control vehicle. Overloaded utilities can be overcome by excessive demand.

At night, look out the window for lights. If it's daytime, call neighbors. Are several homes affected? If the problem is not neighborhood-wide, first check your electric service. By flashlight, flip the main circuit breaker or breakers off and then back on. If you have a fuse box, learn how to replace your main fuses with new spares. If everything stays off, you've probably got a power failure. It's time to call the power company.