How To Monitor Your Electricity Usage

Smart meter

Smart meters record your home’s electricity data every 30 minutes, sending it straight to your provider. You won’t be able to see a breakdown of each appliance and how many kilowatt hours (kWh) it’s using, but you will get an overall view of your daily power usage. You can also set up alerts for any spikes when things start working overtime – like your air conditioner in the middle of a heatwave. 

You’ll need one of these to take advantage of some of the other monitoring methods.

Electricity provider apps

Many energy providers in Australia offer mobile apps that turn your usage data into easy-to-read insights. These can show how your power consumption changes over time, highlight peak and off-peak energy cost periods, and sometimes give you a look into which appliances are costing you the most. It’s a slightly more detailed option to help you understand how to finesse your energy use and create a more efficient household. 

In-home energy displays

In-home energy displays show your electricity consumption in real time, along with an estimate of what it’s costing you. It works by using data from your smart meter to give you a more granular look into your home’s energy usage. Your energy data pops up on your phone or laptop, often using colours or symbols to show low, medium or high pricing periods; it’s super handy for timing those energy-hungry appliances right. 

Energy monitoring system

Home energy meters or energy monitoring systems are like in-home energy displays, but work a bit differently. These monitoring devices clip onto your meter and send information wirelessly to a separate display or app. Some systems also connect to smart plugs through wi-fi or bluetooth, adding usage data from certain appliances into the mix for regular real-time updates. Overall, these monitoring systems can give you hourly, daily, and monthly usage data, and help you see where any energy-saving opportunities might be.

Home energy management systems

A home energy management system is the most advanced option. It’s a hardware device installed in your home that lets you monitor and manage your electricity use from your smartphone or computer for complete control. You’ll also be able to connect solar panels, EV chargers, and batteries into the mix. This means you not only get real-time consumption data but the ability to automate appliances and even control when and how your home uses its power, like turning the lights on at a certain time or only using power from your solar panels during daylight hours.