N
a dimming or reduction in the use of electric lights in a city, esp to conserve electric power or as a defensive precaution in wartime (尤指为节约电力或作为战时防御措施的)城市灯火管制
Iranian television showed officials inaugurating new electricity plants and saying more gasoline is available, contrary to scattered reports from inside the country that gas stations are running low on fuel and that electricity brownouts are causing major disruptions.
VOA: standard.2010.07.20
They get paid for either firing up backup generators or for agreeing to targeted brownouts.