Monster's kit powers and protects your smart home (pictures)

The Monster Central Power Control Kit costs $140 and includes a connected plug and a hub. Plug your lamp or entertainment center into Monster's outlet to get energy readings, automated controls with the app, and surge protection. Click through to find out more.

You can add additional plugs to your system for $70 a piece.

Download the app, and you can add the plug to your account by scanning the QR code on the back. The process is quick and easy.

The plug looks long, but the prongs sit at the top so it won't block the other outlet as long as you plug it into the bottom one.

With our upside-down outlets around the office, I had to use the top plug to avoid blocking the other one.

Plug your dumb electronic into the bottom of Monster's outlet to connect it.

The plug needs a hub to access the Internet.

Plug the hub into a different outlet.

And attach the hub to your router with an ethernet cord.

Once that's all done, open up the app and automate.

You can name your device, and see the energy readings on a gauge or on a chart. If you know why I named my lamp Timothy Stack, you win! I don't know what you win, but probably something good.

Create rules for the Monster Plug on the Presence Pro App.

The Presence Pro app functions a lot like IFTTT.

With the Monster Central Power Control Kit, you can get started with home automation while having the benefit of surge protection.