Yes, surge protectors do use a small amount of electricity even when not actively providing power to devices. Like many electrical devices, surge protectors consume a small amount of standby power when they are plugged into an outlet. This standby power is used to operate the internal circuitry and indicator lights that allow the surge protector to function properly.
The amount of electricity consumed in standby mode is generally minimal and should not significantly impact your overall energy consumption. However, if you want to reduce your electricity usage further, you can unplug the surge protector when it's not in use or use a power strip with an on/off switch to completely cut off power to connected devices. This can be particularly useful for devices that continue to draw power even when turned off, commonly referred to as "vampire" or "phantom" loads. By turning off the power strip, you can prevent these devices from using electricity when not in use.