Ok...here’s aother option. Microsoft and I think IBM got together and have developed “sun” powered computers which they have a mass give away program, worldwide, in giving these to areas in Africa and South America where there is no chance of Internet Service. Might be interesting to find out about these. Bill Gates is at the head of this program if I remember right.
You can tell unless you try...you might end up with a free computer!
My power went out last year for no obvious reason {common occurance on my road}. I usually call my neighbor and if theirs is out also I know it's the fuse at the tap off for our road. This time no one was home. I called the utility and the guy told me only my house was out. They came out and the fuse to my transformer on the pole had fallen out. The fact he couldn't ping my meter base let them know where to look. They also read the meter in the same manner.