What are electrical power monitoring systems (EPMS)?
Electrical power monitoring systems (EPMS) make visible the often-overlooked data and health of electrical distribution systems. Typically EPMS is comprised of meters and software installed on a server. Moreover, they offer physical means of communication between the meters and server.
Electrical power monitoring systems provide:
- 24/7 analytics behind energy consumption
- Details on power quality events
- Data trends for proactive maintenance decisions
- Insight on how to increase distribution system reliability
Who benefits from EPMS?
Electrical power monitoring systems add value to small and large consumers alike. Therefore, consumers from commercial, industrial, governmental, or even residential benefit from EPMS integration. Consumer major pain points initially drive the necessity for integration. Identifying the pain points and overall goals factor into shaping the scope of the electrical power monitoring system.
EPMS can be as simple as a meter installed next to the utility meter for consumers looking to forecast their monthly utility bills. However, customers looking to make educated loading and shedding decisions will require a more intricate meter design.
More than just meters can be included as well. For instance, emergency generators, relays, UPSs, ATSs, sequence of event recorders, and many more devices can be monitored, logged, and displayed. In other words, no matter what consumers would like to leverage for managing energy usage, an electrical power monitoring system can help.
How to justify EPMS costs?
By providing real-time feedback about the status and health of an electrical distribution system, electrical power monitoring systems alert users to critical changes. As a result, this helps to reduce reaction time and downtime. Savings add up quickly when the cost of downtime remains high.
As mentioned above, the system trends allow planning maintenance proactively instead of only reacting when a part of the system shuts down. That cost of fixing an issue once it occurs often far exceeds timely maintenance.
However, in extreme cases, power quality issues cause damage to sensitive equipment. Electrical power monitoring systems help by determining the dirty power source and allow intelligent discussions with the utility-backed data reports to help address and prevent recurrences.
What electrical power monitoring software is right for you?
There are many flavors of EPMS. APT recommends Schneider Electric’s Power Monitoring Expert as it offers robust features and proven market longevity. PME is a fully-fledged, heavily tested platform that stands alone or integrates with building management systems to add even more value.
APT partners with Schneider Electric as a certified EcoXpert. Our partnership allows us to learn and pull the most from the software, providing customers with maximum benefits.
Looking for additional EPMS Info?
Discuss design and features, with an APT professional today. Let us help find the right solution to fit your business’s needs.
Ken Shaffer | APT Engineering Operartions Manager