Smarter Working = Smarter Selling (Part 1)
Visualising energy: how to help your customer progress
In a world where energy prices fluctuate, solar panels are installed on almost every roof, and self-sufficient living is becoming increasingly important, insight is the new gold. Without a clear picture of what is consumed and generated, it is difficult to manage. Let alone save. As an installer, a crucial role is played here. How? This blog explains.
As an installer, you not only provide customers with solar panels or a battery, but also insights into energy consumption and smart savings. This is where the smart meter and an energy management system come into play.
Smart Meter: The source of insight
A smart meter is not merely a replacement for the traditional meter. It is the starting point for smart energy management. The smart meter not only registers how much electricity is consumed, but also how much is fed back into the grid. Furthermore, this does not happen once a year for the annual statement, but continuously. Often even quarterly.
What are the benefits?
Direct insight into generation and consumption
Awareness of peak usage or phantom load
Opportunity to adjust behaviour
Preparation for dynamic energy contracts
Without a smart meter, valuable data is missed by the customer. And without data, there is no optimisation.
Energy Management System: converting insight into action
Where the smart meter registers, the energy management system provides control. This could be a system that monitors solar yield and automatically controls the heat pump or washing machine based on this. Or a system that indicates when the battery is full and feeding back into the grid is profitable.
With an energy management system, customers can:
automate energy consumption
shift consumption to cheaper times
maximise self-consumption
better manage grid load or limitations
simplify reporting or monitoring
Provide your customer with more insight
Show customers in real-time how their installation is performing. For example, use an app or a live dashboard upon completion. Display what is generated via solar panels, what is consumed, and how much is fed back. Demonstrate how behaviour influences the figures. This makes insight tangible and valuable. Most importantly: the customer achieves maximum return from their installation. Happy customer, happy installer!