a system of surge suppressor units is connected at multiple locations on a power transmission and distribution grid to provide grid level protection against various disturbances before such disturbances can reach or affect facility level equipment . the surge suppressor units effectively prevent major voltage and current spikes from impacting the grid . in addition , the surge suppressor units include various integration features which provide diagnostic and remote reporting capabilities required by most utility operations . as such , the surge suppressor units protect grid level components from major events such as natural geomagnetic disturbances , extreme electrical events and human - generated events and cascading failures on the power grid .