Understanding Real-Time Energy Data

When you first open PowerSense, you'll see a live dashboard with kilowatts, amps, and voltage readings updating every second. Here's what each metric actually means for your home.

Watts vs. Kilowatts

A watt (W) measures power — how fast energy is being used right now. A kilowatt (kW) is simply 1,000 watts. Your electric bill charges you for kilowatt-hours (kWh) — the total energy consumed over time.

A 1,000W appliance running for 1 hour uses exactly 1 kWh. If electricity costs $0.15/kWh, that's $0.15 per hour of operation.

Reading Your Live Dashboard

• Total home draw: the sum of all active circuits, shown in kW
• Circuit breakdown: individual loads per room or appliance
• Daily accumulation: kWh consumed since midnight, updated in real time
• Cost projection: estimated monthly bill based on current usage patterns

What's a Normal Baseline?

A typical home at rest (no HVAC, no cooking) draws between 0.3 – 0.8 kW. This is your phantom load — devices in standby, always-on refrigerators, network equipment.

When your HVAC kicks in, expect a jump of 2–5 kW depending on the system size. A clothes dryer adds another 4–6 kW while running.

Using Anomaly Alerts

PowerSense flags unusual patterns automatically — for example, a circuit that suddenly draws 40% more than its 30-day average. This often points to a failing appliance, a refrigerator seal leak, or a heating element that's working harder than it should.

Understanding your baseline is the first step to meaningful savings.