What is an Energy Usage Monitor?

Mac Marshall
Sep 9
2 min read

Energy usage monitors for your electric panel are extremely useful tools—both for cutting costs and improving home safety. Here's how they work and why they matter:

🔍 What Is an Energy Usage Monitor?

An energy monitor is a device installed at or inside your electrical panel that tracks how much electricity your home (or individual circuits) is using in real time. Some examples include Sense Energy Monitor, Emporia Vue, or Neurio.

✅ Why They're Useful

1. See Real-Time Energy Use

Track exactly how much power you're using right now.
Identify energy-hogging appliances (HVAC, water heaters, etc.).
See how usage changes over time—daily, weekly, seasonally.

“You’d be shocked how much your always-on devices cost per month.”

2. Lower Your Electricity Bills

Spot wasteful devices that run when they shouldn’t (e.g., old fridges, vampire loads).
Get alerts for excessive consumption or forgotten appliances.
Optimize time-of-use: shift loads to cheaper off-peak hours (if your utility charges that way).

3. Detect Faulty Appliances

Some monitors recognize device signatures and alert you to odd behavior:
- Fridge compressor failing?
- Water heater using more energy than it should?
Prevents surprise breakdowns or costly energy waste.

4. Improve Home Safety

Spot abnormal or unexpected power draw—potentially signaling electrical faults, failing motors, or fire risks.
Set up alerts for when specific circuits spike in usage.

5. Track Solar or Battery Usage

For homes with solar panels or battery backup, these systems let you:
- Monitor production vs. consumption.
- Know when you’re drawing from or sending to the grid.
- Maximize ROI on renewable systems.

📲 Smart Features

Feature	Benefit
Mobile App Access	Monitor energy use from anywhere
Alerts & Reports	Get notifications about high usage or trends
Device Detection	Auto-identify major appliances
Integrations	Works with Alexa, Google Home, Home Assistant

📈 Do They Really Save Money?

Yes—especially when combined with action:

Emporia Vue users report savings of 10–20% by changing habits and identifying always-on devices.
Sense claims average annual savings of $100–300 just from behavioral changes.

Contact Lytle Electric to let Lytle light the way on cost and energy savings for your home or business!