Call 844-335-0814 and our service desk will connect you with an independent local electrician who installs home energy monitors.
What an energy monitor can show you
- Real time whole home usage
- Usage for individual circuits such as HVAC, water heater and EV charger
- Solar production and export when sensors are installed on the solar circuit
- Always on loads that run all night
- Usage trends by day, week and month
Why monitors are installed inside the panel
Most monitors use current sensors that clip around conductors inside the electrical panel, connected to a small unit that sends data to an app over WiFi. Because the work happens inside a live panel, installation is a job for an electrician. The electrician also confirms panel space, labels circuits and places sensors on the circuits you most want to track.
Check that your WiFi reaches the panel location, or plan for an extender.
Installing an energy monitor
- Call 844-335-0814 and tell us the monitor model and which circuits matter most.
- We connect you with an independent electrician who installs monitors.
- The electrician reviews the panel and confirms sensor placement.
- Sensors and the monitor unit are installed with the power safely off.
- The app is connected and readings are checked against a known load.
Using the data with your SMUD rate
Once you can see usage by circuit, you can shift flexible loads such as EV charging, laundry and pool pumps to times that suit your rate plan. Check your SMUD account for your current rate and its time periods, since they set when energy is cheapest.
If the data shows your EV charging is close to your panel's limits, SMUD's home EV charging page describes rebates for circuit sharing devices.
Pairing a monitor with solar and batteries
If you have solar panels or a home battery, an energy monitor shows how much of your solar production you use directly and how much is exported. That makes it easier to decide when to run large loads such as EV charging, laundry or a pool pump.
Some solar and battery systems include their own monitoring. Ask the electrician whether your system already measures household consumption before adding a separate monitor, so you do not pay for duplicate sensors.
Either way, labeling the circuits in your panel during installation is a useful upgrade on its own.
Questions about Home Energy Monitor Installation
Will an energy monitor lower my bill on its own?
No, but it shows exactly where energy goes, which makes it easier to change habits and spot failing equipment.
Does every circuit need a sensor?
No. Most people monitor the whole home plus a handful of large or interesting circuits.