Electrical Metering Solutions That Give You Real Answers About Your System
Can you add those EV chargers without overloading your service? Will that new tenant’s build-out push your panel beyond capacity? Is that piece of equipment you’re planning to install going to trip breakers or create problems?
Without accurate electrical metering data, you’re guessing. And guessing wrong means expensive service upgrades, nuisance trips, or worse, overloaded systems creating safety hazards.
At Shaw Consulting, we provide electrical metering solutions that give you the facts about your system’s actual performance. No assumptions, no nameplate calculations that don’t reflect reality, just measured data showing what your electrical system is actually doing under real-world conditions.
Why Electrical Metering Matters for Facilities
Here’s the problem with design calculations: they’re based on nameplate ratings and demand factors that might not match your actual usage patterns. That 200-amp panel might only see 120 amps of actual load, or it might be pushing 190 amps during peak periods without anyone realizing it.
Electrical metering reveals the truth. When you’re planning facility expansions, adding new loads like EV chargers or tenant panels, or evaluating system capacity, measured data beats educated guesses every time. You need to know average loads, maximum demand, and minimum usage patterns to make informed decisions about system capacity.
Beyond capacity planning, metering provides energy visibility that helps control costs. You can identify phantom loads, verify equipment is operating efficiently, and track consumption patterns that impact your utility bills. For facilities managing multiple tenants or cost centers, submetering provides the data needed for accurate cost allocation.
The compliance angle matters too. NFPA 70 requires verification of system capacity before adding loads, and 30-day metering data provides the documented proof that your additions won’t create overload conditions.
Types of Electrical Metering Systems
Temporary Metering
Permanent Panel Meters
Branch Circuit Monitoring
Branch Circuit Monitoring
Utility-Grade Submetering
Our Electrical Metering Approach
We provide comprehensive metering services from initial design through data analysis and reporting:
Design
Installation Support
Data Integration
Data Integration
Analysis & Reporting
What’s Included in Electrical Metering Services
Your metering engagement includes equipment selection and specification recommendations, installation coordination and setup support, a 30-day monitoring period with continuous data collection (or longer duration if needed), and a comprehensive load analysis report documenting average, maximum, and minimum loads.
For capacity verification studies, we provide specific guidance on available ampacity and recommendations for proposed load additions like EV chargers, new tenant panels, or equipment installations. The report clearly states whether your system can accommodate planned additions or identifies necessary upgrades.
You’ll also receive raw data files for your records and any required documentation for permit applications or utility coordination.
Benefits of Accurate Metering & Monitoring
Capacity Confidence means making expansion decisions based on measured reality instead of conservative calculations that might overstate requirements or optimistic assumptions that create problems.
Cost Control comes from understanding actual consumption patterns. Metering identifies waste, verifies efficiency improvements, and provides data for informed utility rate selection.
Load Balancing becomes possible when you can see phase-by-phase loading. We identify imbalances that cause inefficiency and neutralize overloading issues.
Preventive Insights emerge from monitoring trends. Gradually increasing loads signal equipment issues or changing usage requiring attention before problems develop.
Regulatory Compliance gets easier with documented load data meeting NFPA 70 and local code requirements for capacity verification.
Common Applications & Facility Types
EV Charger Installations frequently require load studies to verify available capacity. Our 30-day metering shows whether your service and panels can handle the additional demand or if upgrades are necessary before installation.
Tenant Build-Outs in commercial and industrial spaces need capacity verification to ensure new tenant loads won’t overload existing infrastructure. Metering provides landlords and tenants with confidence about available power.
Equipment Additions for manufacturing, data centers, or any facility adding significant loads benefit from measured capacity data rather than theoretical calculations.
Energy Management Programs in healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and large commercial buildings use ongoing metering to track consumption, verify efficiency projects, and control costs.
Renewable Energy Integration projects need baseline load data to properly size solar installations and battery storage systems.
Atlanta-area facilities with aging infrastructure particularly benefit from metering before expansions, as existing systems may already be operating closer to capacity than drawings suggest.
FAQ’s
How do we access metering data during monitoring?
Can metering integrate with our existing systems?
Is 30 days enough for an accurate load analysis?
What's involved in meter installation?
Why Choose Shaw Consulting Services
We understand you need answers, not just data. Our metering services focus on answering your specific questions about system capacity and performance. Whether you’re planning EV infrastructure, evaluating tenant additions, or managing energy costs, we provide clear analysis and practical recommendations.
As an Atlanta-based engineering firm, we’re familiar with local code requirements and the practical challenges of working with existing electrical systems in occupied facilities.
Ready to get real data about your electrical system capacity?
Discuss your metering needs with Shaw Consulting Services today. Contact us to explore how electrical metering can support your facility planning and energy management goals.