cuts without having to wait for assistance from a Belco operator.

Spokesman Linda Smith said yesterday the company was installing a new Interactive Voice Response system.

The system should be fully operational at the end of the summer. It allows callers to key in their telephone number on a touch-tone phone, and from their number the computer will be able to determine the location of the caller, the circuit to which they are connected, the transformer and pinpoint all the details.

"The caller will be given a menu of options,'' Ms Smith said. "For example, if you are experiencing a power outage, press number one.

"At Belco, the computer will automatically print out a job ticket to send off to the ground crew who can get right on the job.'' Customers without touch-tone phones will have their calls forwarded to an operator after waiting a few seconds.

"It is imperative that we have people's correct telephone number so we can tell the location of the problem,'' Ms Smith said. "Customers must also remember to dial in the number of the place from which they are calling, not necessarily their own number so the (Belco) trucks are sent to the right place.''