The Energy Detective (TED) is an energy monitoring device by Energy Inc. which I have recently inspected and tested. (visit www.theenergydetective.com) It is a useful device that can be used to monitor a single load or your total household electrical energy usage. It includes a small display that sits conveniently on your kitchen counter. A sensor and wireless transmitter (MTU) is installed in your main electrical service panel. The MTU sends wireless data to the display unit.
The TED can be installed easily by an electrician or homeowner if you are comfortable connecting wires and current transformers to a circuit in your electrical service panel. The unit includes two clamp-on current transformers that go around the circuit wires you wish to monitor (up to 1 inch wire cables and 200 amps). A spare circuit breaker is also needed to monitor voltage.
I found the monitor to be quite useful if you want to monitor a specific load (e.g. a hot tub or heating system). It also would be useful to monitor your total household use.
There are some limitations to the TED. You can only monitor 1 load. The watt measurement is not very accurate because it connects to only one phase of your service (most larger loads are two phase). Although the manufacturer specifies accuracy within 1 percent, voltage could be unbalanced, and a 10% error is possible.
If you have a PV system that may generate more energy than you use, the unit will not record negative power.
Overall, I think the TED provides an inexpensive (less than $200) energy monitor for limited applications.
Archive for December, 2008
Energy monitor review – TED
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008Xcel increases electric rates by $174M
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008Xcel recently announced it would increase the Renewable Energy Standard Adjustement (RESA) component of the electric bill to fund the renewable energy program. Xcel also filed a rate case increase for GRSA – the general rate schedule adjustment component of your electric bill. GRSA is the component of Xcel’s revenue that applies to Service and Facility – money used for capital and O&M costs. The increase is substantial – from 12.7% to 32.5%. They call this a 19.8% increase! Would someone enlighten me on that calculation?
For the average customer with monthly usage of 625 kWh, they project the increase will be $5.13 per month or 8.39%.
On the bright side, this increase adds value to those of us with solar electric systems, and provides more incentive for residential and commercial customers to install solar electric systems.
Clean Energy Loans in Boulder County
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008Boulder County voters approved issue IA by a healthy margin, and now county officials are beginning to plan the program roll-out. A public open house was held on Tuesday (Dec 2) to solicit public input on how to implement the loan program. The new loan program is called “ClimateSmart”, and is headed by Ann Livingston. I am looking forward to details on the program.
Contact information: climatesmart@bouldercounty.org or 303 441 4565
Xcel increases RESA (renewable energy standard adjustment)
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 A few weeks ago Xcel decreased the renewable energy rebate from $4.50 per watt to $3.50 per watt. That adjustment was based on the increase of the ITC (federal investment tax credit).
Yesterday, Xcel announced it will increase RESA – the electric bill component used to fund their renewable energy program. They did not provide a specific reason for this increase. Xcel did estimate the increase will amount to about 33 cents on the average residential bill.
Presently RESA is six tenths of one percent (0.6 %) of the total electric bill before taxes. A $100 electric utility bill includes about 60 cents for RESA.
I would like to hear more about Xcel’s plan for the increased revenue!
