wolfdogcat

Guys, this is epic information. Thank you. With regards to the tasmota stuff, I definitely like it, and think this will be the best in the long run. I have looked at some other units also, and thinking to go with an off-the-shelf solution to start the monitoring, while I dust off the engineering degree, and go through the learning needed for HA. My thinking as follows (shout if there are any red-flags you can see?): IAMMETER - off-the-shelf, and available through take-a-lot (you'd be surprised what the leadtime on most units are) - its MQTT (although not sure it can be flashed for tasmota - it does seem to be able to read tasmota.. so should be some compatibility), but given that it can integrate directly to HA, I am happy enough with that - and the price tag of 5k for the 3-phase unit is doable. It also has its own cloud dashboard to start with. This will keep me monitoring while I go through the learning curve of the tasmota / HA stuff I also looked at MONNIT devices - love them - but the price tag is to steep for me from the onset - need some eskom savings first. )) Keep the comments and solutions coming. Thanks guys.

Some great info, thanks! I am really unable to find a meter that is both fit for purpose, and available - seems everyone is waiting on stock for Efergy. Any other off-the-shelf items that anyone can recommend to get started? Don't mind replacing it later... I have looked at the Iammeter.. but reluctant to spend R5k on a take-a-lot product - although it does have the cloud based platform to get graphical data from? might have to go with it for the next few months while Efergy stock comes in. I checked out the "Open Energy Monitor" thanks - https://openenergymonitor.org/ - looks like it works and runs on MQTT which can integrate with HA... but again, its not in stock - Rasberry Pi system, and apparently nobody has those! Still looking )) (Anyone want to sell their Efergy meter? ))

Thanks guys, Any recommendation on something else then?

Thanks a mil for the input guys. For a bit more clarity... We run a 200ltr main geyser, with 5.5kw het pump (no element connected). This is fed by a 150ltr geyser, with geyserwise circulating through 32 evacuated solar tubes with a 3kw element coming on in the mornings and evenings. And it's not enough... 16 people showering 2 times per day, with a fully operating laundry... water heating is our main issue. This I am aware of. We also can't limit a paying customers water... the negative reviews would be far more detrimental than eskom pricing. The power meter we have is a rotating disc 3 phase meter. Noah had one on the ark. It will need to be changed, but I am wanting to check if there is a discrepancy first, and if there is, then get some big guys involved to fight it out with council. Measuring the current consumption as a starting point will also enable us to measure the impact of our energy saving initiatives as we go. A bit of a marketing thing also. From what I can tell the Efergy system seems like the best starting point. Has the ability to integrate with Home Assistant later, and comes as a complete package out the box, and can monitor up to 5 circuits at the same time (bonus)- the only problem is that all the suppliers seem to be out of stock, with a wait time of 6-8 weeks.. any inside track on where to get? I have also looked at the Victron EM24, Iammeter, and nanoview - but not super impressed (although might go with nanoview for water metering) Also going to change out geyser element for one of those PCT stainelss steel ones (they say 15% saving on energy..... but not sure how much to believe... once the metering is in place, I will be able to tell you. ))) Thanks for all the input so far, glad to be part of this awesome forum, and hope to post some progress soon (well sooner than 6-8 weeks)!

I own a guesthouse in Muizenberg, Cape Town. We have plenty of wind, and sun and with that the corrosive salt air and the constant salty mist to cover solar panels. Will be looking for solutions on that later tho.... My plan is as follows: Step 1) monitoring and measurement Step 1a) Expanded solar water heating capacity Step 2) Inverter and battery backup Step 3) Solar generation Step 4) Wind generation. So for Step 1 this is the complete measurement and monitoring of our energy consumption. I have been looking at the home assistant (rasberry pi) setup to start building a monitoring system that can expand and basically record our journey. (we will be posting a-lot of the stuff to our social pages, so the initial measurements are key for us) Any advice on what meters work best for this? Setup recommendations etc? There is a lot of noise on the internet when trying to source a compatible meter, that can integrate into home assistant and expand with our system as we go. I also want to integrate some temperature measurement, and water flow measurement as we build out the system, so any advice on these kinds of sensors / flow meters would also be helpful. During our initial phase we will also be adding to our solar water heating capacity, as this will be low hanging fruit to improve efficiency (any recommended installers in the Cape Town area - the past few I have used have been complete let-downs). During winter we consume about R10,000 per month on electricity alone... so I am done with supporting this Eskom kak. I also suspect that my old 3-phase meter is over-reading and I am being hugely overcharged - so will need to replace that to a more modern 3 phase unit (our initial measurement will hopefull verify if we are being overcharged or not.) Looking forward to posting pics, getting involved and seeing what can be done.