Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1998 19:36:43 -0400
To: broadcast@cs.umass.edu
From: Steve Cook 
Subject: Power Reduction Notice

We have been informed that for the next ten days, WMECO has
temporarily reduced the power available to campus, and have been asked
to curtail all nonessential power use especially between the peak
hours of 9:30 and 4:30. Loss of service altogether may occur if
usage is not "voluntarily" reduced. In any case, temporary periods
of 5% voltage reductions will occur without warning during peak demand
period over the next ten days.

Please shut off all nonessential electrical items such as (and I
quote) "computers and electrical equipment, elevators and escalators,
generators and motors, refrigeration units, air conditioners, stoves
and microwave ovens, electric lighting, televisions and stereo
equipment, and any other nonessential items".  Turn off or closely
monitor all equipment that is sensitive to power reduction, loss or
surge.  For updates, check the UMass Emergency Closing web page at:

http://www.umass.edu/closing/

However to check the web page, I guess your computer has to be on.  :-)

	Steve

P.S. Don't worry, I'm not asking you to shutdown your computer.