What can you do with data from sub-meters?

A meter does not save energy - right? True or false?

The data from sub-metering can provide very useful information, not just about energy consumption (kWhrs), but for insight into the quality of the power distribution system. By taking advantage of the meter data in real time and in conjunction with smart software, a facility can be totally armed and automatically alerted in advance of any power situations which could adversely impact on the operations.

It's like having a virtual energy manager, 24/7, 365 days in the year.

Unfortunately, many sites have either no metering, pre-historic meters or metering that is not providing information to the right people. The only meter data is often stored with accounts and for the total site only, good for accounts but nothing to do with energy management. 

It's a waste of time and money if meters are not connected and not networked, not properly commissioned, not properly labelled and shown on a meter plan, not integrated with real time energy management software, no one knows what the meter is for and no one uses or acts on the intelligence provided. It's like building railway stations but have no rails or trains to move people.

Here are some of the other benefits of sub-metering, when combined with real time energy management software:

• Reduce costly shut downs from electrical faults or overload: Every load has a typical profile. The software automatically alerts the right people for action. Think essential services - hospital, airport, manufacture.
• Reduce re-lamping costs from over-voltage: Over-voltage can damage lamps and sensitive electronic equipment resulting in costly re-lamping or equipment failure. 
• Alert on poor power factor: Know immediately of malfunction of power factor capacitors, avoid costly penalty rates or worse, shut down of facility if demand rises above capacity.
• Detect Harmonics distortion problems: Harmonic distortion can put extra stress on the power distribution system, heating up cables and reduce the lifetime of the power system and cause faults in other systems.
• Demand analysis and demand side management: Understand the maximum demand and reduce peak loads, load shedding. Avoid penalty rates and flatten the curve. Shift specific loads into a different time of day and reduce peak utility costs.
• Early warning heat detection: Every load has a typical foot print. When cable terminations became faulty heat is produced and the current increases. If undetected, this can result in electrical shut down and even fire. The electrical data can be set to pre-warn well in advance of causing any harm at a facility.
• Automatic alarms and alerts: Set alarms on any condition which would be abnormal - example - too high, too low, outside time schedule, no load or excessive load.
• Historical Data: The data from the meters is automatically stored and available at any time. No need to have costly temporary data analysers connected to obtain a snapshot view only. Send historical data to specialist consultants or contractors if needed.
• Evidence of events: Be armed with data in case of damaging events - like power outages, over and under-voltages. Reconstruct events from historical data. 
• Benchmarking: Compare any result with any other similar application, actually or historically, benchmarking of a site, of specific equipment or processes. Essential if one want's to improve a site or process.
• Automatic detection of wasted energy: Based on the principle of "An empty room does not need light". Alarm against equipment or power operating but not required. This applies to anything, from lighting to standby power to things left on over weekends or holidays. Or between shift changes in factories. 
• Automated tenant billing: Many commercial sites bill tenants based on occupied space regardless of actual energy use. The software can provide automated billing - monthly or whenever needed and email it directly to the tenant or accounts department.
• Visualize critical data on a scrolling display: Display data in real time where it is needed. For maintenance, facility management, energy management  or behaviour change.
• Measurement and Verification: Having a metering system in place can be easily used for verification of "before and after". Actual hard data replaces estimates and guessing. 

Unfortunately metering is still not well understood. Value engineering often only allows for pulse type meters (kWhrs only) and ignores smart meter capabilities, eliminates networking of meters and Energy Management Software.

Sub-meters are still connected to Building Automation Systems which traditionally have little inbuilt memory or energy management capabilities when compared to an advanced Energy Management System.

New and smarter software is ongoing and we can expect smart analytics and interfaces and Iot in this industry. The key is to start with the metering infrastructure now and not to wait for tomorrow. The benefits will be there as soon data is flowing.

Yes there is a cost to meter but what is the cost of not to meter?