Power outlet with a movable contact and releasable holding mechanism

A power outlet, comprising:

• a case;
• a contact device including a fixed contact, a movable contact facing the fixed contact, and a movable piece to be connected to the movable contact;
• an operation member movable relative to the case;
• a moving mechanism including a movable member and a return spring, the moving mechanism being configured to move the movable piece in response to operation of the operation member, wherein the movable member is movable between a closed position at which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open position at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, and wherein the return spring is a separate member from the movable piece and urges the movable member toward the open position;
• and
• a holding mechanism configured to hold the movable member at the closed position, the holding mechanism releasing a holding state in which the movable member is held at the closed position in response to operation of the operation member, wherein
• the movable member, when released from the holding state, moves from the closed position to the open position by urging force of the return spring,
• the holding mechanism includes a locking pawl configured to lock the movable member at the closed position, and
• the operation member includes a first operation section configured to move the movable member from the open position to the closed position and a second operation section configured to release the locked state in which the movable member is locked by the locking pawl at the closed position.