Meter reading for businesses under energy saving and information obligation
For companies subject to the energy saving and information obligation, it is essential to provide demonstrable substantiation for energy-saving measures. Although detailed measurements are not mandatory, additional measurement methods provide the necessary insight in practice. By using pulse reading of existing electricity, gas, and water meters, and direct kWh measurement with clamp meters, organizations can reliably record and analyze their consumption. These measurement methods together form a flexible and scalable basis for energy management and reporting. This is what will appear as a description when this message appears in search results.
Measurement obligations and expectations under the energy savings obligation and information duty
Available metering methods for electricity, gas and water
When pulse reading is appropriate
When direct kWh measurement with phase terminals is applied
Understanding and substantiation of energy saving measures
Companies and institutions with an annual consumption of at least 50,000 kWh of electricity or 25,000 m³ of natural gas (or equivalent) are subject to the energy savings obligation. They are required to:
Implement all energy-saving measures with a payback period of five years or less;
Report on these measures once every four years (duty to inform).
The law does not prescribe a specific measurement method and does not require mandatory measurement at the asset or partial consumption level. However, measures taken must be demonstrable and substantiated. Reliable consumption data is necessary for this in practice.
Therefore, additional measurements at the meter or plant level are often chosen in practice.
Although detailed measurements are not required by law, organizations without additional measurement data run into limitations:
Main meter data alone does not provide sufficient insight into where consumption occurs;
Effects of measures are difficult to substantiate without comparative data;
Peak and time-dependent consumption remain invisible.
Therefore, additional measurements at the meter or plant level are often chosen in practice.
Overview of measurement methods
1. Pulse reading of existing meters.
Many electricity, gas and water meters have a pulse output (for example, S0 or reed/dry contact). Each pulse represents a fixed amount of energy or volume.
Stores data locally in case of temporary connection loss;
Automatically transmits measurement data as soon as connection is available.
Applicable for:
electricity meters with S0 output;
gas meters with pulse contact;
water and flow meters.
2. Direct kWh measurement with phase terminals.
Not all situations have an existing (sub)meter. In that case, electrical consumption can be measured directly by current measurement around the phase wire.
kWh meters with phase terminals:
measure power and energy directly on the cable;
require no interruption of the installation;
are suitable for temporary or permanent measurements.
An example of this is the Neuron kWh Energy Meter. This measurement method is often used for:
individual machines;
production lines;
distributors or specific groups.
When do you choose which measurement method?
Situation
Suitable measurement method
Existing electricity meter with S0
Pulse reading
Gas or water meter with pulse contact
Pulse reading
No submeter present
kWh measurement with phase clamp
Temporary analysis or pilot
kWh phase terminal
Permanent recording of meter reading
Pulse reading
These methods are not mutually exclusive and are often combined in practice.
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Our specialist
Jeroen Frantzen
predictive maintenance | iot sensors
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