# Blackouts? Why not brownouts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackouts-why-not-brownouts/58893 "2001-03-21T17:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackouts-why-not-brownouts/58893/21 "2001-03-22T23:32:48Z")
“don’t do this for safety reasons. Think about it: When the power’s off in a block, that means no burglar alarms, no security cameras, no electric fences.” I never thought of that & they never mentioned that in California. Brilliant idea. Another reason they gave was that sometimes they DON’T turn the power off after all. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackouts-why-not-brownouts/58893/22 "2001-03-22T23:50:27Z")
Well, according to [this article](http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/news/depth/power032201.htm), California may soon be able to do something like a brownout; it’s probably a bit too late to help this summer, but it’s still a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackouts-why-not-brownouts/58893/23 "2001-03-23T16:27:37Z")
Yes, some guy invented a special power box to regulate electricity but as you said, its too early for us. Right now they are debating whether hospitals should be immune from blackouts. Their backup systems take ten minutes to kick in, not a lot of time to wait really unless you are having Lasik. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackouts-why-not-brownouts/58893.md?page=1)