"Ever been in a public building when the power has gone out? If you're lucky, emergency lighting will kick on, helping you out of the building. Until recently, the only way for homeowners to install a power outage system is through a system aimed at commercial buildings or with those chintzy flashlights that plug into receptacles. The problem with the commercial system is expensive; the problem with the second system, if you can call it that, has less to do with the lousy, weak flashlights than with the outlets." Read the full review here: http://homerenovations.about.com/od/electrical/fr/Mr-Beams-Home-Power-Outage-Lighting-System.htm