Electrical power here in Dushanbe can be sketchy at times, which makes a voltage regulator or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) a good investment if you've got computer gear or other voltage-sensitive equipment. Fortunately, these items are readily and cheaply available at local electronics retailers here in Dushanbe. The last few nights we've had brief but repeated brownouts, where the lights would dim and my desktop computer speakers would go off for a moment then come back on. Since I've got a laptop, which runs off its battery when AC power fails, this doesn't pose much danger to my computer. However, my desktop hard drive depends on AC and so could be damaged if power fails or voltage drops enough to interrupt its connection to the computer. So, I connected my office electronics to a $30 voltage regulator like the one below a few nights ago. I've heard it kick in many times (it makes a low hum), but my speakers no longer cut out when the lights dim, and my hard drive seems to be fine. A UPS unit would be even better for computer gear.