Real-Time Electricity Monitoring with Octopus Energy and Home Mini

General
1

Real-Time Electricity Monitoring with Octopus Energy and Home Mini

Hello everyone,

I wanted to share my exciting experience setting up real-time electricity consumption monitoring using Octopus Energy and the Home Mini device. This setup has been a game-changer for me in understanding and managing my energy usage effectively.

The Setup Process

  1. Getting Started: I first ensured I had the Home Mini installed and functioning correctly. This device is fantastic as it uploads consumption data to Octopus every 10 seconds, providing near real-time insights.
  2. API Access: I obtained an API key from Octopus Energy, which was straightforward through their developer dashboard. This key is essential for accessing the GraphQL API.
  3. Finding Meter GUID: Using a series of cURL commands, I extracted my meter GUID. This involved two main steps: obtaining an access token and then querying the meter details. The meter GUID was crucial for authenticating API requests.
  4. Item Configuration: I configured two items in my OpenHAB setup: one for live demand (instant power draw in Watts) and another for cumulative consumption (kWh). This setup allows me to track both current usage and overall consumption.
  5. Rule Implementation: I created a rule using JavaScript to fetch data from the Octopus API every 30 seconds. This rule updates the items with the latest data, ensuring my dashboard reflects real-time usage.

Key Insights

  • Data Accuracy: The data from Octopus is exactly what’s used for billing, so I can trust it for accurate tracking.
  • Rate Limits: I noticed that the Octopus API is happy with requests every 30 seconds, so I set up my rule accordingly to avoid hitting rate limits.
  • Visual Representation: Integrating this data into my OpenHAB dashboard has been incredibly useful. I can now see spikes in usage and adjust my habits accordingly.

Tips for Others

  • Start Simple: Begin by setting up the basic items and rule. Once it’s working, you can explore more advanced configurations.
  • Check Documentation: Octopus Energy’s developer documentation was invaluable. Spend time understanding the API endpoints and required parameters.
  • Community Support: If you run into issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to the community. Forums like this are fantastic for troubleshooting and sharing knowledge.

Conclusion

This setup has given me a newfound awareness of my energy consumption. It’s empowering to see how small changes in my daily routine can lead to significant savings over time.

If anyone has questions or needs help setting this up, feel free to ask! I’d be happy to share more details or troubleshoot issues.

Best regards,
[Your Name]