A network appliance to convey communication signals over a communication network to other nodes thereof in accordance with a network protocol, the network appliance receiving electrical power from an alternating current electrical power source, the network appliance comprising: a communication circuit to perform network communication operations on the communication signals in accordance with the network protocol, wherein the communication circuit comprises a communication signal conditioning circuit electrically coupled to at least one of a plurality of communication port connectors to produce a conditioned communication signal; a power conditioning circuit to produce conditioned electrical power from the received electrical power; a power monitor and control circuit electrically coupled to the power conditioning circuit to analyze the conditioned electrical power against established power criteria and to generate a switch control signal in a signal state corresponding to each of a plurality of events that occur when the respective power criteria are met; a switch circuit electrically interposed between the power conditioning circuit and the communication circuit to selectively provide the conditioned electrical power to the communication circuit in accordance with the state of the switch control signal; a housing enclosing the communication circuit, the power conditioning circuit, the power monitor and control circuit and the switch circuit such that the conductive connections therebetween are contained within the housing, the housing having disposed thereon an electrical input port connector through which the electrical power is provided to the power conditioning circuit and the communication port connectors through which the communication signals are provided to the communication circuit, the appliance further including an electrical output port connector disposed on the housing, the electrical output port connector electrically connected to the switch circuit in parallel with the communication circuit to provide the conditioned electrical power to external load equipment. a communication circuit to perform network communication operations on the communication signals in accordance with the network protocol, wherein the communication circuit comprises a communication signal conditioning circuit electrically coupled to at least one of a plurality of communication port connectors to produce a conditioned communication signal; a power conditioning circuit to produce conditioned electrical power from the received electrical power; a power monitor and control circuit electrically coupled to the power conditioning circuit to analyze the conditioned electrical power against established power criteria and to generate a switch control signal in a signal state corresponding to each of a plurality of events that occur when the respective power criteria are met; a switch circuit electrically interposed between the power conditioning circuit and the communication circuit to selectively provide the conditioned electrical power to the communication circuit in accordance with the state of the switch control signal; a housing enclosing the communication circuit, the power conditioning circuit, the power monitor and control circuit and the switch circuit such that the conductive connections therebetween are contained within the housing, the housing having disposed thereon an electrical input port connector through which the electrical power is provided to the power conditioning circuit and the communication port connectors through which the communication signals are provided to the communication circuit, the appliance further including an electrical output port connector disposed on the housing, the electrical output port connector electrically connected to the switch circuit in parallel with the communication circuit to provide the conditioned electrical power to external load equipment.