18th September 2026By Neil Skoglund
LoRaWAN Energy Metering: Track Power Usage Without Rewiring
Energy Metering
Most businesses only find out about an energy problem once the bill arrives - a fridge running warmer than it should, equipment left powered on overnight, a unit quietly drawing more than its replacement would. LoRaWAN energy metering closes that gap by reporting power usage in real time, without an electrician rewiring your building.
This guide covers how LoRaWAN smart plugs and energy meters work, what they're used for, and where energy metering fits alongside Trackpac's other sensors. If you're monitoring temperature-sensitive equipment specifically, our temperature sensors are often deployed alongside energy meters on the same refrigeration or plant equipment.
How LoRaWAN Energy Metering Works
A LoRaWAN smart plug or clip-on meter measures real-time power draw at the point of use, then reports it wirelessly to the Trackpac dashboard on a set interval. Because it runs over LoRaWAN rather than Wi-Fi, it doesn't depend on your office network, and a single gateway can cover an entire building or site.
Real-time power monitoring
Track live consumption for individual appliances or circuits, not just a monthly meter reading.
Remote control
Switch equipment on or off remotely, or schedule automatic power-downs outside operating hours.
No rewiring required
Plug-level meters install in minutes and report over LoRaWAN - no electrician needed to get started.
Scales from one plug to a whole site
Start with a single high-value appliance and expand to building-wide monitoring on the same platform.
Where Energy Metering Pays For Itself
The value of energy metering is rarely the data itself - it's what the data lets you catch:
- Equipment left running - catching appliances or machinery drawing power overnight or over weekends when they should be off
- Failing equipment - spotting a compressor or motor that's started drawing more power than its baseline, often an early warning sign before failure
- Retail & hospitality - monitoring refrigeration, signage and kitchen equipment across multiple sites from a single dashboard
- ESG & sustainability reporting - having real usage data on hand rather than estimating from utility bills
Combine with rules for automatic savings
Once a device is on Trackpac, you can pair its energy data with the platform's rules engine - for example, an alert if a piece of equipment draws power outside its scheduled hours, or a remote power-down triggered automatically at close of business.
Because usage data is timestamped and exportable via Trackpac's API, it also feeds directly into carbon reporting and sustainability dashboards without manual data entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does LoRaWAN energy metering work?↓
A LoRaWAN smart plug or metering device sits between an appliance and its power source (or clips onto an existing circuit), measures real-time power draw, and reports usage data wirelessly over LoRaWAN to the Trackpac dashboard - no electrician or new wiring required for plug-level monitoring.
Can I remotely turn equipment on or off?↓
Yes. Trackpac's supported LoRaWAN smart plugs include remote control alongside monitoring, so you can schedule equipment to power down outside business hours or switch it off remotely if something is drawing power unexpectedly.
Is energy metering only for large industrial sites?↓
No. Plug-level LoRaWAN energy meters are commonly used for individual appliances or equipment - server racks, retail refrigeration, vending machines, office equipment - as well as building-wide monitoring. You don't need a full industrial BMS to start monitoring energy usage.
How accurate is LoRaWAN energy monitoring?↓
LoRaWAN smart plugs and meters report real-time power consumption data suitable for identifying usage patterns, flagging anomalies, and tracking trends over time. For billing-grade or regulatory metering, a certified meter is required - Trackpac's energy sensors are aimed at operational visibility and cost management rather than utility billing.
How does energy metering help reduce costs?↓
Visibility is the first step - many businesses are surprised by which equipment draws power outside operating hours, or which units are underperforming and consuming more than they should. Continuous metering surfaces that, and combined with remote control or automated rules, lets you act on it directly rather than waiting for the next utility bill.
See our energy metering sensors or get in touch to talk through monitoring your site.
