Energy monitoring
If you check your fuel bill or prepayment meter for how much energy you use, or take meter readings, you’ve already started monitoring your energy use! Energy monitoring includes how much energy you use and when you use it.
Smart meter In-Home Displays (IHDs) or energy supplier apps give greater insights into energy usage. They display half-hourly energy information (usually cost and amount used in kilowatt hours, kWh) on screen. This can help you understand which appliances use the most energy. Energy consumption will vary based on the efficiency of your appliances and your usage patterns.
IHDs provide information over time, from every half hour to year, on your energy use, which can help with budgeting. This is also really useful for participating in flexibility services, where you shift your electricity use out of specific hours, usually peak time (4-8pm), to make savings on your fuel bill.
For more information:
- CSE fact sheet: How much electricity am I using?
- CSE fact sheet: Energy monitors