Susan Chang - homemaker, Ottawa, Canada l was working on the computer when the power went out. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon. I went into the kitchen and started preparing dinner, and I waited for the lights to come on again. But they didn't! It was getting dark, and I realized I didn't have any candles or a flashlight. So l rushed to the supermaket and bought a few candles, matches, and some batteries for my radio. It was the first time l realized l didn't have an emergency plan for a situation like this, and it made me understand how important energy is.