Energy Metering Solutions & Applications

Renewable energy and microgrid applications rely on DC circuits and the rise in the two technologies has led to increased demand for DC monitoring. DC power meters are designed for precision measurement of solar panels, wind turbines, light rail transit, and more.

As electric vehicle usage increases worldwide, so does the prevalence of electric vehicle charging stations. From basic kWh monitoring to robust, continuous metering for cost allocation, determining each station's energy consumption is necessary to ongoing system management.

An energy audit can provide critical insight into energy consumption and allow property owners or facilities mangers to better understand device efficiencies, usage patterns, or power quality issues. The data collected during an energy audit can help improve system efficiency, gain LEED certification, or develop a cost allocation schedule.

Time-of-Use, or TOU, is the segregation of energy rates based on the timeframe when the energy is being consumed. TOU is a way for utility providers to alleviate demand during peak periods by enforcing a tariff structure that charges a premium rate within peak consumption time periods, such as during the middle of the business day, to encourage users to consume less energy during peak periods and shift demand to off hours.

Tenant submetering increases accountability for energy consumption and provides an equitable utility billing solution each tenant within a building, facility, or campus. Submetering is a relatively simple concept that allows property owners to take control of their energy bills and record energy usage for individual tenant spaces.

Branch circuit metering, sometimes called high-density metering, is the practice of metering multiple circuits within a single electrical panel with the goal of obtaining a comprehensive energy data on individual circuits as well as facility-wide energy consumption. Circuits for individual tenants, users, or devices may be separated out for further analysis.

In non-industrial applications, HVAC systems can account for the largest energy expense and, therefore, are often targeted in energy reduction programs. Ongoing energy metering of an HVAC system can provide critical data to uphold maintenance programs, justify equipment upgrades, and encourage replacement of outdated systems.

Remote metering is the ability to view metered energy data from a remote location, typically over a network connection or the internet. Projects can range from single-facility applications to large scale complexes with multiple buildings. Many facilities rely on remote metering for its convenience, flexibility, and straightforward integration with building control systems and energy management software.

Using a submeter for kWh metering provides critical insight into a facility's energy consumption and, ultimately, enables correlation between consumption and the monthly energy bill. Instead of waiting until the end of the billing cycle, users can accurately monitor energy usage in real-time. By selecting a revenue grade meter, users can verify power bills or allocate charges to specific tenants.

Comprised of a complex system of PLCs, RTUs, networking hardware, human machine interfaces (HMIs), and computer databases, SCADA systems are found in industrial plants or energy production facilities for monitoring and controlling processes in real time. A SCADA system gathers and analyzes facility data continuously to detect problems, monitors environmental conditions, or controls equipment to maintain critical facility operations.

A crucial process to ensuring devices and systems run at maximum efficiency, power quality monitoring analyzes the characteristics of the incoming electricity and determines whether the voltage, frequency, and waveforms conform to specifications. Quickly detecting poor power quality is essential to preventing equipment strain, costly repairs, high energy bills, and unnecessary downtime.