Electric Candles
There is a debate among poskim whether one can fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos and Yom Tov candles by lighting electric candles. The same question applies to lighting the Chanukah menorah and to making the brachah of borei me’orei ha’eish on Motzoei Shabbos. The consensus among poskim is that regular candles or oil lamps are required for lighting the Chanukah menorah, and the brachah of borei me’orei ha’eish may only be recited on actual fire; however, the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos and Yom Tov candles can be fulfilled by using electric candles. Although it is preferable to use regular candles or oil for Shabbos and Yom Tov, if a person is in a place where they cannot light regular candles, such as in a hospital, they may use electric candles instead. The same applies to the mitzvah of bedikas chometz: according to many poskim, one may use a flashlight instead of a candle. #263?1
1 ראה בספרי דבי רב, אאזמו״ר זצ״ל, שערים מצויינים בהלכה, סע״ח סק״ז. סצ״ו סק״ו. סקי״א סק״ד. סקל״ט סק״ה. וש״נ. ושנ״ת. ולענין נ״ח – ראה אג״ק ח״י ע׳ רכח. שם ע׳ שלה.