Zap Busters

ANCHOR LEAD
IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST PEOPLE... YOU HAVE A SURGE PROTECTOR ON YOUR HOME COMPUTER. TROUBLE IS... MOST OTHER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES IN YOUR HOME MAY BE UNPROTECTED.
WELL, NOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT... IF YOU KNOW THE THREE LINES OF DEFENSE AGAINST POWER SURGES.
_____________ SHOWS US IDEAS THAT ARE "ZAP BUSTERS".

TRACK ONE Length: 08
TIMOTHY NICHOLSON IS A CONFESSED TECH-HEAD. WITH COMPUTERS... TV'S... AND OTHER GADGETS... HE'S SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING THEM FROM A POWER SURGE.

SOT
KEY @: 10 Timothy Nicholson, Homeowner
"That would be a major hit to my budget if I were to have to replace something like that right now."

TRACK TWO Length: 08
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR GEAR?
ALAN SWISHER IS A POWER SURGE EXPERT WHO SAYS LIGHTNING IS THE BIGGEST THREAT... AND PROTECTION BEGINS AT YOUR POWER METER.

SOT
KEY @: 23 Alan Swisher, Progress Energy
"A homeowner's first line of defense against a power surge would be to put something behind the electric meter that can stop a large amount of energy before it enters the home."

TRACK THREE Length: 11
THAT "SOMETHING" IS CALLED AN ARRESTER. THIS IS WHAT ONE LOOKS LIKE WHEN INSTALLED BEHIND THE ELECTRIC METER. AND THIS IS WHAT ONE LOOKS LIKE AFTER STOPPING A JOLT FROM LIGHTNING. BUT IT DID ITS JOB.

SOT
Length: 02
"Nothing in the home got damaged."

TRACK FOUR Length: 14
TIMOTHY HAS AN ARRESTER TO PROTECT HIS EXPENSIVE APPLIANCES FROM A LARGE HIT.
BUT IT'S SMART TO HAVE A SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE FOR SMALL SURGES...THE ONES THAT AFFECT YOUR MORE SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS. THE FAMILIAR POWER STRIP PROTECTOR CAN HANDLE THOSE....BUT,

SOT
KEY @: 1:00 Alan Swisher, Progress Energy
"Power strips are not designed to handle a great deal of energy."

TRACK FIVE Length: 08
AND NOT ALL POWER STRIPS ARE CREATED EQUAL. SWISHER SAYS A GOOD ONE WILL RUN YOU ABOUT FIFTY DOLLARS.
BUT THERE'S STILL ONE MORE WAY YOUR STUFF COULD GET ZAPPED.

SOT
KEY @: 1:14 Alan Swisher, Progress Energy
"Surges can also enter your equipment through the phone or cable or satellite lines."

TRACK SIX Length: 12
LOOK FOR A POWER STRIP THAT ALSO HAS CONNECTIONS TO DEFEND PHONE AND CABLE LINES. TIMOTHY REALIZES HE OVERLOOKED THAT WAY OF GETTING ZAPPED... BUT HE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT SO NOTHING IN HIS HOME ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE THIS.

TRACK SEVEN
THIS IS _____________ REPORTING.

ANCHOR TAG
MANY POWER COMPANIES WILL INSTALL SURGE ARRESTERS ON YOUR ELECTRIC METER-OR SIMILAR PROTECTION FOR YOUR WHOLE HOUSE-FOR A SMALL MONTHLY FEE.
SOME UTILITIES EVEN OFFER TO PAY FOR ANY EQUIPMENT THAT'S DAMAGED IF THE PROTECTION THEY INSTALL FAILS.

SOURCE LIST
Alan Swisher
Progress Energy
Lake Mary, FL
407-942-9380
Mr. Swisher holds an MBA from the University of Central Florida and is a certified power quality professional through the Association of Energy Engineers. He's headquartered in Central Florida, the lightning capital of the world, where he educates homeowners about lightning protection. He's been with Progress Energy for 20 years.