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Contact UsBuilding electricity bills are increasing.
But the real question is: which areas are actually driving the increase in electricity consumption?
A main electricity meter typically provides the total energy consumption of a building. However, that figure does not necessarily reveal whether the largest consumption comes from air conditioning systems, lighting, specific tenants, pumps, server rooms, or other areas.
This is where more detailed electricity monitoring becomes essential.
With Smart kWh Meters, energy consumption can be monitored at specific measurement points. Building managers can not only understand how much electricity is being used but also identify how, when, and where that energy is consumed.
Imagine a building consuming 120,000 kWh in one month.
This figure provides an overview of total energy consumption. However, when consumption increases to 135,000 kWh the following month, the operations team still needs to answer several questions:
Without more detailed consumption data, investigations often rely on manual inspections and assumptions.
The concept of submetering helps address this challenge by installing electricity meters at specific electrical panels, floors, tenant areas, or load groups.
This allows energy consumption to be broken down into smaller, more meaningful segments that are directly relevant to building operations.
A Smart kWh Meter is essentially an energy meter capable of measuring electricity consumption and transmitting the collected data to a monitoring system.
Unlike traditional manual meter readings, smart meters allow data to be collected periodically through communication networks suited to the building's infrastructure.
Depending on the device and system integration, communication technologies may include:
The collected data can then be transmitted to a dashboard or monitoring platform, where it is displayed through numerical values, charts, historical records, and operational status indicators.
With this approach, an electricity meter becomes more than just a device for recording kWh consumption. It becomes a valuable source of operational data for building management.
The monitoring capabilities of each energy meter may vary. However, smart energy meters commonly provide several electrical parameters, including:
1. Energy Consumption (kWh)
Indicates the total amount of electrical energy consumed over a given period.
2. Active Power (kW)
Shows the actual electrical power being used at a particular moment.
3. Voltage (V)
Helps monitor voltage conditions within the electrical network.
4. Current (A)
Indicates the electrical current flowing through the monitored load.
5. Power Factor
Provides information about the characteristics of power usage within the electrical system.
Some devices may also support additional parameters, such as frequency, reactive energy, demand, or individual phase measurements.
Since not all meters offer the same capabilities, monitoring parameters should always be selected according to the specifications of the devices being used.
The basic concept is relatively straightforward.
Smart kWh Meters are installed at electrical panels or designated measurement points that need to be monitored.
For example:
Main Electrical Panel
ā
Floor Distribution Panels
ā
Tenant Distribution Panels
ā
HVAC / Pumps / Lighting / Equipment
Meters can be installed at selected points within this electrical distribution structure, depending on the monitoring requirements.
The meters transmit their measurement data through available communication protocols or network technologies.
In certain installations, multiple meters may be connected to a gateway or controller before the collected data is forwarded to a server.
The monitoring platform receives data from multiple measurement points and stores it as historical records.
Facility management or engineering teams can access the dashboard to view electricity consumption across different areas.
For example:
| Monitoring Area | Energy Consumption |
|---|---|
| Floor 1 | 245 kWh |
| Floor 2 | 310 kWh |
| Floor 3 | 218 kWh |
| HVAC | 420 kWh |
| Lighting | 165 kWh |
Note: The values above are illustrative examples.
This demonstrates how electricity consumption data can be categorized by building area or electrical load group.
The value of an energy monitoring system goes beyond displaying real-time numbers.
More meaningful insights often emerge when data is continuously collected and analyzed over time.
Historical data can help operations teams identify patterns such as:
For example, a building may be expected to have minimal activity after 8:00 PM, but its electricity demand remains high until midnight.
This could indicate that certain electrical loads are still operating and may require further investigation.
Two floors with similar functions and operating hours may show significantly different energy consumption levels.
These differences can provide a useful starting point for further inspection.
If an area's electricity consumption is normally stable but begins increasing consistently, operations teams can identify when the change first occurred.
Monitoring does not automatically determine the root cause. However, it helps narrow down which areas require attention.
Implementing an energy monitoring system does not necessarily mean monitoring an entire building from the beginning.
The system can be introduced gradually, starting with the most critical measurement points.
Each floor can have its own dedicated electricity meter.
Facility management teams can compare energy consumption between floors and monitor usage trends over time.
In multi-tenant buildings, submeters can provide visibility into the energy consumption of individual tenants.
If the data is intended for billing purposes, meter type, measurement accuracy, certification, and applicable regulations must be carefully considered.
HVAC systems are often among the largest electricity consumers in commercial buildings.
By using dedicated meters, HVAC energy consumption can be compared against operating hours and building occupancy or activity levels.
Water pumps, exhaust fans, chillers, Air Handling Units (AHUs), elevators, and other equipment can be monitored separately according to operational requirements and electrical panel configurations.
The objective is not simply to generate more data, but to collect information that is relevant and useful for building operations.
Building managers can monitor electricity usage by specific areas or load groups instead of relying solely on total building consumption.
Daily, weekly, and monthly consumption data can be compared to identify changes in electricity usage patterns.
Unexpected increases or unusual electricity usage patterns can serve as early indicators that certain areas may require further investigation.
When operating hours, HVAC settings, equipment, or operational policies change, energy consumption data can help assess the impact of those adjustments.
When multiple electricity meters are integrated into a single monitoring platform, facility teams no longer need to manually check each meter just to obtain an overview of building energy consumption.
Smart kWh Meters provide valuable data, but they do not automatically diagnose every electrical issue within a building.
If electricity consumption at a particular panel increases, the monitoring system can identify and display the change.
However, the underlying cause still requires further analysis.
Possible reasons may include:
Therefore, smart energy monitoring should be viewed as a tool that helps engineering teams identify which areas need to be investigated based on actual data.
Before installing Smart kWh Meters, several important factors should be evaluated.
Not every electrical panel needs a meter.
Measurement points should be selected based on their operational importance and the value of the information they can provide.
Ensure that the selected meters are compatible with the electrical system configuration and measurement requirements.
For meters that use Current Transformers, selecting the appropriate CT ratio and configuring the meter correctly are essential for accurate measurements.
Determine how measurement data will be transmitted from the meters to the monitoring platform.
In larger buildings, communication network design becomes an important part of the overall monitoring system.
Infrequent data collection may limit monitoring detail, while very short reporting intervals can generate significantly larger volumes of data.
The transmission interval should therefore be configured according to the intended monitoring objectives.
If the collected data will be used as a basis for electricity billing, the meters and their implementation must comply with applicable technical standards and regulatory requirements.
Electricity bills tell building managers how much energy has been consumed.
Smart energy monitoring helps answer the next set of questions:
With more structured and accessible data, building energy management can move beyond simply reviewing total electricity consumption toward a more measurable, data-driven monitoring process.
IoT Kreasi Indonesia helps integrate monitoring devices, connectivity solutions, and IoT platforms to support energy monitoring across buildings and facilities.
From Assumptions to Data.