I can attest to the value of the surge protector. While in Savannah we experienced a lightning strike to a tree right next to us. The bolt went down the tree( Kim and the dogs were within about 10 feet ) jumped to an adjoining power pedestal. Cooked our surge protector and cooked the guys electrics who was on other side of pedestal. By the way this was around 20 minutes after a storm and the skys were mostly clear and blue.