[Lightning]

The purpose of a surge protection device (SPD) is to protect appliances and sensitive electronic equipment from INDIRECT lightning strikes. You need to consider Primary and Secondary SPD. Primary SPDs are either installed behind your electric meter by SECO or Progress Energy. Or you can have an electrician install a SPD on your electric panel. In either case this is to protect your hardwired appliances, (dishwasher, A/C, furnace, etc.). Then you need Secondary SPD for any electronic equipment that you value (computers, TV, refrig., etc) with a plug-in device or a power strip that has a connection for coiax cable and/or telephone cable. See the Lightning Matters column in the March 2011, December 2010 and August 2010 POA Bulletin for further details. These can be found on the POA web site.