You can find lots of information on this topic at http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm . Thanks to Bill Kahle for pointing out this link!

It is not reasonable to expect someone to rewire their home because they need a new dryer or range [stove]! According to the NEC [National Electrical Code], it is now required to isolate the neutral conductor from the appliance frame or chassis. It used to be allowable to use the neutral as a grounding means by incorporating a link between the neutral and the chassis.

Yes and no, it all depends on the type of wiring within your home. Older wiring did not contain a ground conductor regardless of the box being metal or not. The wiring needs to have the ground in the cable* otherwise if a 3 prong (grounded) receptacle is installed without the ground conductor in the cable you've created a dangerous condition. Electrical appliances that have 3 prong plugs will no longer be safe to use.

First, you should check your circuit breakers or fuses. Then, check to see if power in your whole area or section of your neighborhood is out. Also, check to see if the line providing power to your home is down. If you cannot ascertain the reason for your outage, or you have questions, call NSTAR at 800-592-2000. If you do see a downed wire, make sure to call NSTAR immediately. STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED WIRES.

Call the Co-op. Regardless of which energy supplier you choose, the Co-op will continue to maintain and repair the poles and wires that bring electricity to your home and restore your power during outages.

Nothing changes...you still call your electric power company. They continue to provide emergency service, power line maintenance, and repair (the cost for that is and will continue to be part of your monthly bill).

The third prong on a three-prong cord set provides a ground path to your circuit breaker or fuses that can detect if electricity is straying or leaking from a product. This helps protect equipment and can help prevent electric shock.

GFCIs are necessary even if the product has a third wire to ground it. GFCIs provide very sensitive protection to consumers against electric shock hazards. Under some conditions, a shock hazard could still exist even if a product has a grounding wire. Before purchasing an extension cord, consumers should consider how the cord will be used. Make sure the rating on the cord is the same as or higher than the number of watts needed by the product that will be plugged into the cord.