As power outages increase, people who never thought about home battery backup systems might start giving it some consideration. Many companies are happy to meet that need and this week at CESI need to check out the Biolite solution. Unlike something that requires a pro to install, using Backup is almost as easy as plugging it in (you’ll also need to mount it somewhere in your home).

Personally, the battery is extremely thin and the matte silver finish is about as unobtrusive as you can get. That’s all part of the design – BioLite says it’s designed to disappear into “forgotten places” in your home. Behind the refrigerator, under a counter top, on the wall under a table.

Personally, I want one so I don’t have to worry about the pickles going bad in the fridge again if a storm knocks out the power in my house, like it did recently. (I ate the pickle. I shouldn’t have eaten the pickle.)

The concept will be familiar to anyone who has used an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) – something gamers have used for years to ensure uninterrupted gaming. Essentially, it’s a big battery and inverter that plugs into your wall. Then you plug in any appliance or device you don’t want to lose power to – the fridge is a good example. When the power inevitably goes out, the battery senses the shortage and flips the output to feed from the stored charge. When the power is restored, the cells refill themselves, ready for the next time.

It’s connected to the app so you have a log of when and how long your power went out, and of course receive notifications when things happen. You can also use Backup on-demand when your power is good, or even schedule it to come online at specific times, something you can do if you’re facing higher electricity prices for peak usage periods.

Positioned on one side towards the corner are three ports, one connecting to an outlet and two AC connections. One of them is intended for the included BioLite power strip, which packs three more AC ports and two each of USB-C and Type A connections. A vertical mounting kit is provided, but if you want to mount it horizontally, you’ll need to purchase a separate mount from Biolite.

It ships in two configurations, Backup Complete, a set of two units with a total capacity of 3 kWh that can provide 30 to 60 hours of electricity (for reference, the average US home consumes about 30 kWh per day). The Backup Core has 1.5 kWh of juice and is probably better suited to something like a home office setup. The larger Complete version is eligible for a 30 percent tax rebate, as it meets federal requirements that specify a backup system of at least 3 kWh and physically installed in the home.

The price is $3,000 for the Complete model and $2,000 for the core. The Biolite rep points out that, if you get the rebate, the larger set can only be had for $2,100 so it’s a popcorn in cinema setting — just get the big one for the little one. The Biolite Backup is available for pre-order now and units are expected to ship in May.