As consumers continue to adopt ‘green’ technologies and concepts, Ben Pratt, the founder of B Electrical, shares some top tips to help your customers control, optimise and automate their energy use with a little help from Shelly devices.
At B Electrical, we’re passionate about helping our customers to get the most out of their electrical systems – whether that’s solar, EV charging, or general energy management.
Over the years, I’ve worked with a lot of different technologies, but when it comes to monitoring and managing energy consumption easily and affordably, Shelly smart devices are in a league of their own.
Solar is a brilliant way to reduce reliance on the grid, and with the right smart management tools, you can make the most of every kilowatt you generate or consume.
Whether you’re tapping into renewable energy or just looking to run a property more efficiently, Shelly helps control, optimise, and automate energy use.
Real-time energy monitoring and control
One of the main reasons I recommend and install Shelly devices is their built-in real-time energy monitoring.
With precision up to 1%, we can track exactly how much power a device, circuit, or even an entire property is using. This allows me to help customers optimise when and how they use their electricity — whether that’s making the most of their solar-generated energy or simply using grid power more efficiently during off-peak times. It’s not just about saving money (although that’s a major benefit); it’s also about using energy smarter and greener, whatever the source.
For example, I often set up systems where non-essential devices like pool pumps, water heaters, or EV chargers only run when solar generation is high or when electricity is cheapest. If solar production drops or energy costs spike, Shelly can automatically pause or delay those loads. This way, customers stay on top of their energy use without even thinking about it.
Flexible and scalable installations
Another big advantage is how flexible and scalable Shelly devices are. Whether it’s a small residential setup or a large commercial solar array, we can start with a few key devices and expand as required. Shelly’s compact size and easy integration means I can slot them into new or existing setups without invasive work, so no need to redesign the system from scratch.
For businesses thinking about future expansion, this flexibility is a huge win.
Shelly Pro 3EM: game-changing solar monitoring
When we’re looking at bigger sites, or clients who really want full visibility over their energy, I’ll almost always recommend the Shelly Pro 3EM.
It’s a powerhouse tool for tracking whole-house or commercial site consumption, monitoring up to three phases and measuring energy flow from both solar panels and the grid.
I mount it neatly into the existing DIN rail enclosure ( just like a standard fuse box), and it instantly gives real-time data on voltage, current, power factor, and energy generation or usage.
With LAN and Wi-Fi connectivity, the Pro 3EM also offers the reliability and security businesses need – no worrying about dodgy internet connections affecting energy tracking.
Plus, all Shelly Pro devices come with built-in protections like overvoltage and overpower protection, adding an extra layer of safety for valuable assets.
Smarter EV charging with Shelly
EV owners are another group that Shelly devices really help. I’ve set up multiple systems where EV chargers respond dynamically to real-time conditions, such as energy tariffs or grid demand.
Using Shelly relays, we can schedule charging during off-peak electricity rates or automatically pause and resume charging based on customised rules.
This simple setup helps my customers save hundreds of pounds a year by avoiding expensive peak-time electricity, while also reducing strain on the grid and making EV ownership even more sustainable.
Unlike other EV charging management systems that can get complicated or expensive quickly, Shelly offers an easy, modular way to build smarter EV charging setups without heavy investment in extra hardware or complicated software.
Industrial and commercial solar management
For commercial customers who generate solar power for resale to the energy market, Shelly’s real-time monitoring is essential. With accurate data, they can sell excess energy at the best possible prices, responding to day-ahead market rates.
Using devices like the Shelly Pro 4PM, we can even set up automated control over when commercial batteries charge or discharge, allowing businesses to make the most out of every sunny day, or store energy for peak evening demand.
This level of insight isn’t just good for sustainability; it’s fantastic for maximising profitability too.
Why I trust Shelly
Ultimately, I use Shelly because it makes life easier – for me, and for my customers.
The local control means faster response times and better data security, while the intuitive App makes it easy for my customers to understand and interact with their system without getting bogged down in technical details.
Over time, the energy monitoring and automation features help customers spot patterns, catch potential issues early, and plan future upgrades based on real usage trends.
Whether you’re looking to fine-tune a home solar setup, automate your EV charging, or just monitor the usage of electrical appliances, Shelly provides the tools to get the job done simply, reliably, and affordably.
Get more details on the Shelly range of devices, available from NetXL here
Find more industry feature articles here
