A utility failure causes a workstation to immediately shut down.

A “utility failure” means the building’s AC power source has dropped out (blackout) or sagged severely, causing the workstation to lose power instantly and shut down. The best way to prevent an immediate shutdown during these events is an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which contains a battery and can continue supplying AC power long enough to keep the PC running briefly and allow a graceful shutdown. Mike Meyers’ Lab Manual states that a UPS “continues to supply AC power…during both brownouts and blackouts via a battery,” preventing the computer from instantly losing power when the utility fails. Quentin Docter likewise explains that UPS devices protect against “power sags and even power outages,” using stored battery energy so the administrator (or OS integration) can safely shut down rather than crash off.

A surge suppressor protects from spikes, not outages. A redundant PSU only helps if the PSU fails, and Docter notes it cannot keep a system running during a power outage. A line voltage regulator helps stabilize voltage but doesn’t provide power when utility power is absent.