How to monitor electricity usage in Australia

The most precise way of monitoring your electricity usage in Australia is with a smart meter. These real-time energy monitoring systems are being rolled out across many parts of Australia and can provide you and your electricity retailer with greater insight into your power usage.

Most smart meters can be connected to in-home displays, a website you can log into or mobile apps. You’ll be able to find a range of power usage tracking apps that can help you monitor your energy data and reveal any patterns or changes in your energy use.

If you have a rooftop solar PV system, your smart meter can also track how much solar power your solar panels are generating, how much is used in the home and how much electricity is sent back to the grid. Solar panels are a great way to lower your electricity consumption of non-renewable sources and reduce your emissions.

Apps such as Wattwatchers can be paired with a monitoring device, and are useful Australia-based energy monitors that can track your energy usage and may be available for both Android and iOS. Some smart electricity monitors may be available for free, or at a discounted rate, for eligible households in Victoria through a government initiative.¹

These apps work in conjunction with an external monitoring device that can display real-time data on your energy habits using your existing meter. You may need to call an electrician to install some energy monitors. some wireless sensors may work in all homes regardless of what type of electricity meter you have, while others may require you to have a smart meter. Be sure to explore your options until you find one that suits your needs.

If you want to know the electricity consumption of specific appliances and you can’t upgrade your current energy meter to a smart meter, smart devices are another way to track your energy data.

Smart plugs, for example, can monitor the electricity usage of specific appliances. While they can’t tell how much electricity you’re using in your entire home, it can be useful if there are particular home appliances, you’re worried are consuming too much energy. If you track a home appliance at different times of the day and are on a time of use tariff, you can get an estimate on energy savings that could be made by using appliances at different times. Some advanced smart plugs may even be able to remotely shut off the power supply to the appliance during certain times of the day.

Smart home devices connect to the Wi-Fi in your home and can help manage your usage and energy efficiency. Smart thermostats, for example, allow you to alter the temperature of your home, even when you’re not there. Smart lighting is also often more energy-efficient and lasts longer than regular lightbulbs.

An effective way to get a higher-level understanding of your electricity usage is to use appliance calculators, such as the one offered by the South Australia state government. Simply enter the details of the energy use of your appliances to see an estimate of their daily and annual running costs.

Such tools can be helpful if you’re trying to improve your home’s electricity management. For example, if the calculator identifies that you have a particularly inefficient appliance, you might consider replacing it with a more modern, eco-friendly solution. While the initial outlay may be costly, there’s a chance you could make this money back in savings over the course of its lifetime.

Once your energy monitoring device is up and running, you can pinpoint the times of day when your energy consumption is highest. For example, your household may use a lot of electricity at night when everyone’s home from work and school, or perhaps you’ve noticed an unusually high consumption consistently throughout the day.

Once you’ve recognised the times of day when you can make the greatest difference in your power consumption, you could make energy-saving changes such as:

• Checking all the lights are off in the house before you leave home.
• Not running the air conditioner or heater on if your home is sufficiently cool or warm, or only heating/cooling specific rooms, such as the living room, rather than the whole house.
• Turning off the TV when no one’s watching it and switching gaming consoles off completely rather than leaving them on standby mode when no one’s using them.
• Using energy-heavy appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines during off-peak times if you’re on a time-of-use tariff.

After you’ve identified the energy habits costing you the most, you could try changing your routine to become more energy efficient. By limiting unnecessary electricity use, you may be able to cut down on your energy costs around the home. But don’t just stop there, you should also compare your energy plan to check whether you’re on the most suitable plan for your household.

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of electricity usage monitors is reducing the cost of your electricity bills. By having a system in place to accurately track your energy usage, you’re better equipped to identify inefficient electricity use and change your behaviour accordingly.

Reducing your household’s electricity usage and improving energy efficiency can also help minimise your household’s carbon footprint. In the case of smart appliances, you can control when they’re turned on or off, or adjust their settings (such as temperature). It can also flag when appliances are close to end of life and need replacing.