Do you need a surge suppressor> No. Only buy one if you have so much money that the cost of replacing your tv, the board in your refer and DSI water heater,maybe your satelite receiver, you know, all that darn electronic stuff won't make a dent in your wallet. Otherwise, it is cheap insurance. I know mine saved the bacon. BTW generators surge. Imagine the surge when the say, the AC quits. A regular generator will go into the 160 volts or more till the governor slows it down.And they sag when a large load it applied.