Energy meters are essential for monitoring and optimizing your home’s energy consumption. Paired with Home Assistant, they provide detailed insights and automation opportunities to save on bills and reduce your environmental footprint.
Home Assistant’s energy dashboard has slowly evolved ever since it was introduced in core 2021.8. You are now able to monitor solar panel production, whole home consumption, battery storage status and track individual devices, like plugs and switches.
This article contains the Best Energy Meters for Home Assistant, with a heavy focus on local-only and cloud-independent devices. Anything that requires API usage, cloud access or third-party apps was not considered in this list, to keep inline with Home Assistant’s core values. Further, this guide lists devices used to monitor your entire home energy usage, skipping individual device meters like plugs, sockets and switches.
Best Three-Phase Clamp Energy Meters for Home Assistant
This section highlights the best three-phase clamp energy meters for whole-house monitoring that seamlessly integrate with Home Assistant for accurate and reliable energy tracking.
The newly released Aeotec Home Energy Meter Gen 8 uses the Long Range Z-Wave protocol, ensuring seamless integration with Home Assistant via Z-Wave JS. The device is powered by the main electrical panel and is available in three versions, designed for different markets:
- 1-Phase System Version: Single CT clamp, 230V~ at 50Hz, up to 60A, supports Z-Wave frequencies 868 and 908 MHz (e.g., Europe).
- 2-Phase System Version: Two CT clamps, 120V~ at 60Hz, up to 200A, Z-Wave frequency 908 MHz (e.g., USA).
- 3-Phase System Version: Three CT clamps, 230V~ at 50Hz, up to 60A, Z-Wave frequency 868 MHz (e.g., Global).
This meter provides real-time data on voltage, current, and power usage, which can be visualized in Home Assistant’s Energy Dashboard. It exposes so many entities in Home Assistant per phase that it’s pure joy for tinkerers and automation enthusiast. The Home Energy Meters Gen 8 is a bi-directional meters, capable of measuring net usage from your solar grid. It has an accuracy of over 99% when the current is greater than 0.05A.
Aeotec have released a official pairing and setup guide for the device in Home Assistant and Z-Wave JS.
The Shelly Pro 3EM uses Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, making it a versatile option for Home Assistant integration without relying on cloud services. The cloud is completely optional in any Shelly device, and is on an opt-in basis. Its also among the rare energy meters that use Ethernet which ensures a more stable network connection.
The Pro 3EM is designed for 3-phase systems and supports up to 120A per phase with a 230V~ 50/60Hz input voltage. This energy meter provides detailed real-time measurements for each phase, including voltage, current, and power consumption, and integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant via MQTT or the Shelly Integration. It has an accuracy of ±1% for active energy, compliant with IEC 62053-21 standards. The Shelly Pro 3EM is also a bi-directional meter, measuring both imported and exported energy to and from the grid.
The IAMMETER WEM3050T is the newest release by the company, released almost specifically for Home Assistant. Even though it’s not officially stated as being so, the WEM3050T is the only model that does not require a cloud subscription and comes without any additional account requirements. It supports metering for both three-phase or split-phase systems, as well as bidirectional measurement for both imported kWh (from the grid) and exported kWh (to the grid) in a solar PV monitoring system.
The WEM3050T uses Wi-Fi and integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant through the core integration, MQTT, Modbus or TCP. It provides accurate energy monitoring providing accurate energy monitoring for 3-phase systems with a maximum current of 150A per phase. This is suitable for both residential and small commercial applications.
The Zemismart SDM01-TZ0 is the meter I am currently testing in my own home. Although I haven’t gotten to actually write a review, the device performs as advertised so far. I’m a huge fan of Zigbee, so this Zemismart model is a top pick on my personal list.
It DIN-rail mountable and has a small footprint, with three clamps of 120A each. It’s supported in Zigbee2MQTT out of the box and exposes every entity you would expect from a capable energy meter. It’s also a bi-directional device, recording returned energy in a separate set of entities in Zigbee2MQTT. The measurements can be calibrated if needed, but I can comfortably recommend it as is.
The Tuya PC321-Z-TY is the first whole-home energy meter I’ve tested. It’s a popular pick among Zigbee fans, as it’s quite accurate and reliable thanks to it’s external antenna. Junction boxes are full of wires which can cause electromagnetic interference, which this device allows you to solve by mounting the antenna outside the breaker box.
This device can be used with single, dual and three-phase systems. It can be powered by 100-240V AC, which makes it compatible with systems worldwide, including the US. What’s more, it supports clamps of up 500A each, making it suitable for large commercial applications too. If you are interested in learning more about the Tuya PC321-Z-TY, I’ve dismantled the device completely and talked about it’s features and potential drawbacks in the review.
Best Single-Phase Clamp Energy Meters for Home Assistant
This section highlights the best single-phase clamp energy meters for monitoring single-phase systems. Suitable for tracking server rooms, large appliances, or a single sections (rooms) of your home.
The Zemismart SPM01 is a compact, high-precision energy monitor designed for single-phase systems, supporting a maximum current of 63A. It offers real-time monitoring of voltage, current, power, and energy consumption, with an accuracy class of 1% as per IEC 61557-12 standards.
The device features bi-directional metering, enabling it to measure both energy consumption and production. Its compact design allows for easy installation alongside existing circuit breakers without occupying additional DIN rail space. The only downside of it’s design is that the wire needs to be detached and threaded through the hole before it can be used. The clamp is integrated inside the main case and this makes installation a bit tedious. Even though this device is available as a Wi-Fi variant as well as Zigbee, I highly suggest going for the Zigbee version as it’s cloud-independent and supported in ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT.
I’ve disassembled and reviewed the Zemismart SPM01 in detail if you want to learn more.
The Shelly EM Gen3 is a compact, Wi-Fi-enabled energy meter designed for single-phase systems, capable of monitoring up to two circuits simultaneously. It utilizes current transformers for contactless measurement and comes with a single 50A CT included in the box. However, this can be swapped as the device supports CTs up to 120A.
The device features a dry contact relay for controlling external loads, enabling automated responses based on energy consumption thresholds (e.g. thermostats). It integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant via MQTT or the Shelly Integration. Gen3 Shelly devices are primed for Matter, as the company is slowly updating devices and bridge them to third-party Matter controllers.
The Tuya PJ-MGW2201 is a simple, affordable and accurate energy metering module with a 150A clamp. It can be powered by 110-240V AC in both 50/60Hz systems, which means it can be used anywhere. It uses Zigbee to communicate and works with ZHA (custom quirk) and Zigbee2MQTT.
This device is very simple to install, requiring only an N and L connection for power. It can measure bi-directional current, getting data for both produced and consumed energy. A very interesting binary entity is created in Zigbee2MQTT, which tells you whether or not you are currently producing or using energy in relation to the grid. Very useful for automations and alerts.
Best Multi-Phase Clamp Energy Meters for Home Assistant
This section highlights the best multi-phase clamp energy meters for monitoring individual devices or circuits within multi-phase systems. Suitable for tracking specific appliances, subpanels, or dedicated circuits in your home or business.
If you’re seeking a solution to monitor multiple individual circuits within your home, the Emporia Vue Gen 3 is an excellent choice. The Vue Gen 3 is a cleverly designed CT monitor, with 19 inputs total. The main three clamps can handle up to 200A each and are used to monitor your whole-home energy consumption. Besides those, the device has 16 channels for tracking 16 separate phases individually.
The Emporia Vue Gen 3 can use either LAN or Wi-Fi for connectivity. It’s not natively supported in Home Assistant, but just like the previous model, it can be flashed and used with ESPHome. This renders the device operate completely locally and without cloud dependence. Digiblur has the guide if you intend on doing this.
The IoTaWatt Wi-Fi Energy Monitor is another multi-phase monitor that supports up to 14 CT inputs for single-phase and three-phase systems, with a maximum current of 200A per CT. It features bi-directional monitoring for energy consumption and solar production and includes onboard storage for up to a year of data at one-minute intervals.
Unlike most devices on this list, the IoTaWatt monitor uses a 5V DC power connection, which is simply plug and play. However, it needs an AC transformer plugged in the wall to obtain the voltage reading. This energy meter can be integrated in Home Assistant through the official integration after you’ve configured it through it’s web interface.
Best P1 Energy Meters for Home Assistant
This section highlights the best P1 port energy meters for monitoring your DSMR smart meter. Suitable for real-time tracking of overall energy usage, solar production, and exported directly to Home Assistant.
The SlimmeLezer+ is a smart energy reader developed by Zuidwijk for DSMR utility meters. It’s small, compact, and designed to be plug and play. It connects to your energy meter’s P1 port and comes pre-installed with ESPHome firmware, automatically detected in Home Assistant.
The device supports DSMR versions 2 to 5 for real-time monitoring of electricity and gas usage. If your meter is DSMR/ESMR version 5, no external adapter is needed and the device can be powered from the P1 port. It’s a very affordable reader too, as it costs less than €20. To boost Wi-Fi reception, you can optionally use the device with an external antenna.
Several versions of the SlimmeLezer are available on Marcel Zuidwijk’s website, including a LAN variant. Home Assistant developers officially recommend this device for P1 readers, as it was developed in collaboration with Zuidwijk himself.
The SmartGateways.nl Wi-Fi Meter is another open-source P1-compatible smart reader. It supports DSMR versions 2 to 5, with power drawn from the P1 port on DSMR 5 meters or via USB for older versions. This P1 meter works on all meters in Europe such as in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland and Switzerland which use the DSMR standard.
The device transmits data over Wi-Fi and comes with a 50cm P1 cable for easy installation. Monitors consumption, production, and current per phase, total usage, peak and off-peak values, and supports gas and water meters where applicable. You can read more on their website.
Best Optical (Pulse) Energy Meters for Home Assistant
This section highlights the best optical (pulse) energy meters for monitoring energy consumption via LED pulse signals on traditional meters. Suitable for non-invasive tracking of electricity usage.
The Home Assistant Glow is an open-source ESPHome device that enables real-time energy monitoring by reading the pulse LED on traditional electricity meters lacking smart connectivity. It was originally developed by Klaas Schoute, an intern at Nabu Casa and officially approved by Home Assistant.
The device counts LED pulses to measure power consumption, with support for various pulse rates (e.g., 1000 or 10,000 impulses per kWh), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of meters. Users can customize the firmware to set the correct pulse rate and adjust other settings via a web interface or directly within Home Assistant. The Glow is powered via USB and connects to Wi-Fi, allowing for wireless data transmission to your Home Assistant instance.
You can build the Home Assistant Glow yourself, here’s what you would need:
- ESP32 Board – AliExpress | Amazon
- Dupont Jumpers (female to female) – AliExpress | Amazon
- LM393 Photodiode – AliExpress | Amazon
- ED RGB 5mm 4-Pin Cathode – AliExpress | Amazon
- 3D-printed case
Unlike the Home Assistant Glow, the Frient Electricity Meter Interface 2 (LED) is a ready-made solution for tracking energy consumption from LED pulse indicators on traditional electricity meters. It supports configurable pulse rates ranging from 50 to 10,000 pulses per kWh, ensuring compatibility with various meters. It uses Zigbee to communicate, which is another win by itself.
The device is battery-powered, utilizing two AA batteries with an estimated lifespan of two years, updating every five seconds at room temperature. Installation is straightforward, involving the attachment of an optical probe to the meter’s LED indicator using a magnetic or adhesive mount. However, it’s important to note that the device is not suitable for installations with power production systems like photovoltaic (PV) setups.
you should try one of the tuya zigbee small double clamp meters. they are dirt cheap and in ny opinion they work just as well as the shelly em that i also have.
this is what I am thinking of trying for my energy monitoring system. are they accurate in their readings or do they have any calibration abilities to adjust for any small inaccuracy.
best wishes
Peter
Which one of these can deliver info on real power, reactive power, power factor, etc.?
You can respond with:
Most energy meters I’ve reviewed don’t provide data on reactive or real power, but some devices, like most Zigbee2MQTT meters, do expose power factor information.
I purchased the Frient Electricity Meter Interface 2 last week. Installation was super simple, but you need to follow the setup and connection instructions carefully. Other than that the device works well and is accurate when compared to my manual recording of my electricity usage. The only downside is that it’s pretty pricey for what it is.
Are there any that run on battery power (or at least 12v)? I am rather wary of hooking up random Chinese hardware to 230v
Yep, that’s exactly my main issue with the chinese ones. I’d rather spend a couple of extra dollars and buy a Shelly device
the list of P1 meters is very limited.
Other good options include:
– USB P1 cable. Plugs directly to HA hardware.
– HomeWizard. Certified work with home assistant.
P1Mon. Raspberry pi based solution.