From yesterday's NYTimes:

>a company in Latham, N.Y., intends to announce on Thursday plans to turn the concept on its head by using superconductors as valves on the electric-utility power grid, letting their temperature rise to choke off the flow of power... Intermagnetics General, will build a prototype device meant to protect the power grid against energy surges.

Company Plans Power 'Valve' Employing Superconductors

(Saw this one in a /. post)