Yes, almost all backwashing filters require some electricity to operate the control valve. A water filter has about the same electrical requirements as an alarm clock, but they do need to be plugged in. They are very low draw devices requiring less the 0.5 amps on a standard 120VAC outlet. Most filters are also equipped with a small battery backup to maintain time of day and programming during power outages. If absolutely no power is available in your application there are some other options such as solar power valves that may work. Please contact us for more details.