Monitoring Energy Consumption

Producing energy is only half of the picture. The way energy is consumed determines how effectively local production can be used and how much energy must be imported from external sources.

Consumption monitoring reveals inefficiencies, unnecessary standby loads, and opportunities to shift usage to periods of high renewable production.

Consumption monitoring relies on electrical measurements taken at strategic points within the installation.

• Instantaneous power (W): real-time demand of the household or system.
• Energy consumed (Wh / kWh): accumulated usage over time.
• Current and voltage: used to derive power and detect anomalies.
• Time of use: when energy is consumed during the day.

A consumption profile describes how energy demand evolves over time. Residential profiles typically show peaks in the morning and evening, with lower usage during the middle of the day and night.

By comparing consumption profiles with production curves, it becomes possible to identify mismatches between energy availability and demand.

Energy consumption is not only driven by appliances and building characteristics, but also by daily habits and behavioural patterns. When and how people use energy often matters as much as how much energy is available.

Making consumption visible tends to influence behaviour. This effect is well known from other domains: people often walk more when wearing step-counting watches, or adjust their diet and activity when using connected scales that track weight and body fat percentage.

In the same way, clear and accessible energy monitoring can encourage users to shift consumption to more favourable periods, reduce waste, and better align their habits with local energy production.

Monitoring makes these behaviours visible, providing objective data rather than assumptions. So here is a small list of good practice for monitoring.

• Manual vs automated appliance control
• Standby and phantom loads
• Heating, cooling, and hot water usage
• Electric vehicle charging habits

In systems with local production (such as photovoltaic installations), maximising self-consumption is often more beneficial than exporting energy to the grid.

Load shifting consists of moving flexible uses (washing machines, water heaters, charging systems) to periods when local production is high.

Consumption monitoring provides the data needed to automate or optimise this process.

Several indicators can be derived from consumption data to assess efficiency and performance:

• Total daily, monthly, and annual consumption
• Base load (minimum continuous consumption)
• Peak demand
• Consumption per square metre or per occupant

Consumption data becomes valuable only when it leads to informed decisions. This may include replacing inefficient appliances, improving insulation, or adapting usage patterns.

When combined with production and storage monitoring, consumption analysis enables a holistic view of the energy system.

The interaction between production and consumption determines energy autonomy and reliance on external sources.

Continue to Production–Consumption Balance