How does the monitor work?
The home energy monitor establishes a secure, wireless connection with your electric meter to provide real-time electric use and cost feedback. Your energy monitor and meter are securely paired only with each other. Ideally the monitor should be less than 50 feet from your meter. The monitor should be no more than 75 feet away.
What are the benefits of the monitor?
A home energy monitor can help you better understand your energy usage. The data you see is almost real-time (the delay is about 15 seconds or less). You will be able to see how each appliance contributes to your total electricity usage and how you may be able to change certain behaviors to save money.
Will the data on the monitor match my monthly bill?
No. Your electric bill contains two main components: supply and delivery. The monitor enables you to see costs for the supply portion of your bill. The cost displayed on the energy monitor will not match your bill because it is only your supply cost. There are also other charges and taxes that are not able to be included in the monitor.
How do I know if my meter is compatible with a home energy monitor?
Most residential customers may use home energy monitors. The monitor needs to be placed within 75 feet of the meter. If you live in an apartment building, you may not be able to use a monitor if the meter is far from your residence. The process for ordering a device includes confirming your eligibility for a device.
Can I use my monitor with other electric meters?
No. The monitor will link with one meter at a time, and each meter is viewable only on the monitor programmed by PPL. If you move or have your meter changed, the link to the current meter will end and you would need to log into your PPL account to reconnect your device. You can click on the link provided on the PPL website that will take you directly to the “Register/Change a Monitor” option. You will need to enter the two 16 digit codes on the back of the monitor and then please allow up to five business days for the connection to complete. If you need assistance, email EUHANPilot@pplweb.com.
Can I buy a monitor as a gift for a friend or family member?
No. The monitor will only connect to one specific meter. To order a monitor, you need to be a PPL customer, log in to your PPL account and following the steps to order a monitor for your specific meter.
Will the monitor protect my privacy?
Yes. The monitor can only communicate with your meter. Even PPL cannot see the information that is displayed on your monitor.
How do I set up my monitor after I receive it in the mail?
For the EMU-2, just connect the power cord to the monitor and plug it into a standard outlet. The monitor will power up and automatically connect to your electric meter. In addition to connecting the power cord and plugging into an outlet, the Eagle-200 will also require an Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to link with your computer and smart devices. Refer to the Quick Start Guide included with each model for additional help.
Can I use batteries instead of the power cord for the monitor?
It depends on which model you purchase. The EMU-2 will work on two AA batteries, but battery life is limited. Limit the battery use for short durations like conducting an experiment and keep the power cord plugged in as much as possible. The Eagle-200 monitor doesn’t run on batteries and must always be plugged in. If you have the Eagle-200, you can view the usage on your smartphone for doing in-home experiments.
How do I conduct an experiment to determine how an individual appliance contributes to my energy usage?
One of the advantages of a monitor is that you can track your usage real-time to see what effect changes have on your usage. Note the cost per kilowatt-hour on your monitor before you start your experiment. Once you have established that baseline cost, turn on the appliance and note the change in the cost per kilowatt-hour. The difference in that cost shows you how much that appliance is contributing to your energy usage.
Where can I find out what my supplier cost is?
If you do not have an electricity supplier, your supply cost is the PPL price to compare. Check online or your bill to see the current price to compare.
If you have an electricity supplier, your PPL bill will have this information under the generation section of the bill. Look for the amount you’re paying in kWh. The figure may be in dollars such as $0.06918. This means your supply price is 6.9 cents. See example below.
How can I get help if my monitor does not appear to be working?
Here are some basic problem-solving tips:
Move the monitor closer to the meter. Try to keep it within 50 feet.
In addition to the distance to the meter, minimize any barriers that can block the signal such as concrete walls.
Power off the monitor for five minutes and then power it up and try again.
For the EMU-2, perform a soft reset by holding down both buttons on the right side of the unit for 5 seconds. You will see “Restart” appear next to the top button. Hit that option and follow the screen prompts to reset your monitor.
For the Eagle-200, perform a reset by unplugging the power cord, waiting 10 seconds, and then plugging the power cord back in and let the device reboot.
Occasionally, a monitor loses its connection to the meter. The monitor attempts to reconnect automatically. If the connection is re-established, your information should display as normal.
If these troubleshooting steps don’t resolve your issue, view Rainforest’s support page.
What happens if I move?
If you move, you can take the monitor with you, but you’ll need to connect it to your new meter. PPL will automatically disconnect your meter from your monitor when you stop service at your previous address. After the monitor is disconnected, log into your PPL account. Select your new meter. Then click on the “Register/Change a Monitor.” You will need to enter the two 16-digit codes on the back of the monitor. Please allow up to five business days for the connection to complete. If you need assistance, you can email EUHANPilot@pplweb.com.
Can I connect more than one monitor to my meter?
Yes, you can connect up to five different monitors to your individual meter.
If a monitor is not working properly, can it be returned?
Yes. If your monitor does not work, please contact Rainforest Automation at rainforestautomation.com/support. Rainforest offers a one-year warranty on both the EMU-2 and the Eagle-200. If your monitor still does not work, Rainforest will assist you with submitting a return, which includes free shipping and a full refund.