For factories, electricity costs are a core production cost. Traditional meters settle accounts monthly, often resulting in unclear accounting. Smart meters, however, provide a clear and transparent accounting system, directly driving cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and refined management.
Cost Allocation, Precise to the Machine Level By installing individual smart energy meters on key equipment and production lines, electricity consumption can be monitored in real time, scientifically allocating total electricity costs to specific products or processes, providing accurate data for cost accounting and pricing.
Identifying Energy Waste and Hiding Hidden Waste Real-time monitoring of power and load changes reveals previously undetectable energy leaks such as equipment idling, excessive standby power consumption, and energy spikes caused by process anomalies. This provides clear direction for energy-saving renovations.
Predicting and Avoiding Peak Electricity Costs Many regions implement two-part tariffs or peak-valley pricing. Smart meters provide real-time warnings of electricity load, helping production scheduling proactively avoid peak electricity consumption periods or schedule high-energy-consuming production during off-peak hours, directly reducing electricity costs.
Ensuring Production and Warning of Equipment Anomalies: Abnormal fluctuations in equipment current and power are often precursors to malfunctions (such as motor wear or transmission problems). Smart meters can be set with warning thresholds, enabling a shift from "reactive maintenance" to predictive maintenance, reducing unplanned downtime.
Simple Deployment and Clear Returns: Modern smart meters are easy to install, typically requiring no modification to existing wiring. Data can be integrated into the factory's existing MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or energy management platform via wireless network. The return on investment is short; the electricity savings and increased production efficiency often recoup the cost within months.
For factories, smart meters are far more than just metering tools; they are an indispensable "energy data entry point" for achieving lean production and digital upgrades. They make invisible energy consumption visible, manageable, and optimizable, representing a practical step towards intelligent manufacturing and green manufacturing practices.