An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector includes an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element includes: a housing including a number of second electrical mating members electrically connected to the first electrical mating members; a contact assembly comprising a number of sets of separable contacts each structured to be electrically connected to at least one of the second electrical mating members; and an arc suppression system including: a number of electronic devices each electrically connected to a respective set of separable contacts, and a control mechanism for controlling the electronic devices. When the contact assembly moves between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position, the control mechanism redirects current from the respective set of separable contacts to a corresponding one of the electronic devices in order to suppress arcing across the respective set of separable contacts.