An apparatus for performing power fault analysis in a computer system, the computer system having a central electronics complex frame and a I/O frame and a power system that receives utility power and applies power to at least one electrical component of the computer system, the apparatus comprising: a power controller; non-volatile storage for storing a state variable; the state variable assuming a first state when the computer system is powered on and operating, wherein the state variable stays in the first state until the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request; the state variable assuming a second state when the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request and in response to a power supply failure, wherein the power controller detects the power supply failure and detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown and wherein the power controller writes the state variable to the second state if the power controller detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown, wherein the state variable stays in the second state until the computer system is powered on and operating; and the power controller being operable to read the state variable stored in the non-volatile storage, wherein the power controller is powered down when the utility power is removed from the power system due to a utility power disturbance and powered up when the utility power is restored to the power system, and wherein the state variable is read upon powering up the power controller, and wherein the power controller operates in a standby mode when the computer system is powered off, and wherein the power controller determines that a utility power disturbance has occurred when the state variable read by the power controller is in the first state. a power controller; non-volatile storage for storing a state variable; the state variable assuming a first state when the computer system is powered on and operating, wherein the state variable stays in the first state until the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request; the state variable assuming a second state when the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request and in response to a power supply failure, wherein the power controller detects the power supply failure and detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown and wherein the power controller writes the state variable to the second state if the power controller detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown, wherein the state variable stays in the second state until the computer system is powered on and operating; and the power controller being operable to read the state variable stored in the non-volatile storage, wherein the power controller is powered down when the utility power is removed from the power system due to a utility power disturbance and powered up when the utility power is restored to the power system, and wherein the state variable is read upon powering up the power controller, and wherein the power controller operates in a standby mode when the computer system is powered off, and wherein the power controller determines that a utility power disturbance has occurred when the state variable read by the power controller is in the first state. the state variable assuming a first state when the computer system is powered on and operating, wherein the state variable stays in the first state until the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request; the state variable assuming a second state when the computer system is powered off in response to a power-off request and in response to a power supply failure, wherein the power controller detects the power supply failure and detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown and wherein the power controller writes the state variable to the second state if the power controller detects that the power supply failure causes the CEC or I/O frame to shutdown, wherein the state variable stays in the second state until the computer system is powered on and operating; and the power controller being operable to read the state variable stored in the non-volatile storage, wherein the power controller is powered down when the utility power is removed from the power system due to a utility power disturbance and powered up when the utility power is restored to the power system, and wherein the state variable is read upon powering up the power controller, and wherein the power controller operates in a standby mode when the computer system is powered off, and wherein the power controller determines that a utility power disturbance has occurred when the state variable read by the power controller is in the first state.