Hi Snooz, I've been having a scout around for a device that would suit your needs, there are several on the market, this one looks pretty good. Its also not that expensive, particularly when you factor in what you will be saving, by knowing how much power your actually using :)

http://www.todae.com.au/Products/powerboards/wirelesspowermonitor/


I have bought products of these guys before, and they are a very trustworthy seller. They are also in Australia, so their products meet all Australian standards for electrical appliances. I have seen monitors and meters that can be purchased outside of Australia, but these do not meet our electrical safety standards here, and you could run into trouble if you installed them.

spud

I'm using MPower.
Its a system set up by SRP, my electric supplier, and it does pretty much exactly what you would want. There is a small console that plugs into an outlet inside and communicates with the power meter outside through the electrical lines using X10 technology. I can cycle through prompts that show hourly/daily/monthly costs, as well as showing exactly how much power I'm using during those intervals. It has a 'credit card' slot on it, I fill a card that they supplied me with at an MPower paystation, I can put as much money(credit)on it as I want, so I pay for power as I need it. I wasnt sure how I would like it, but it definitely has its advantages. I can see the power I'm using and adjust accordingly, and there are no more monthly electric bills.

Hey Snooz, came across this interesting development from CSIRO, this would be a great way to monitor your power usage, even on your mobile phone :)

spud



http://www.csiro.au/news/Remote-access-meters-and-energy-costs.html



Remote-access meters can cut your energy costs
Reference: 10/66
A new web-based smart metering system has been developed by CSIRO to enable householders, small businesses and electricity retailers to remotely control energy use over a broadband Internet connection.
24 May 2010

The aim is to help small scale energy users cut energy use, costs and carbon emissions.

CSIRO project leader, Dr Martin de Groot, said the system will give householders the flexibility to cutback their electricity use at times when it’s needed elsewhere on the grid.

CSIRO has worked with energy service company, Energy Response, and hardware designer, Saturn South, to develop a system able to aggregate a large number of smaller users. Until now this has been logistically impossible and cost prohibitive.

"By taking advantage of common broadband Internet connections we are now able to build and deploy a very cheap, real-time platform to deliver energy services to individual dwellings,” Dr de Groot said.

The system involves installing a mini smart-meter in a household or business electrical switchboard, which can then be managed remotely from a centralised control platform.

“Once regulatory approval has been given, energy service companies will be able offer householders more favourable electricity supply agreements and enable them to be more adaptable in their consumption patterns.
“By taking advantage of common broadband Internet connections we are now able to build and deploy a very cheap, real-time platform to deliver energy services to individual dwellings”
Dr Martin de Groot

“The householders can even receive alerts on their mobile phones notifying of any significant changes in energy use in the home.”

CSIRO has estimated projected cost savings for Tasmania, where the new demand side technology was developed. It found the State’s annual electricity expenditure could be cut by $10.9 million, even if less than 10 percent of Tasmanian customers used the system.

If just 10 per cent of Tasmanian households or small businesses take up the technology, the annual savings for those who do is estimated at up to $200 for householders and $1,300 for small businesses.

The infrastructure is cheap, can be retrofitted to existing buildings and complements other technologies such as local generators and intelligent home automation systems.

CSIRO developed the remote control system software and Saturn South designed and built the mini smart meters to CSIRO specifications.

The system will be on display at the CeBIT technology conference at Darling Harbour, Sydney, from 24 to 26 May.