One Size Does Not Fit All – Choosing the Right Socomec Product for Your Job

When it comes to energy monitoring, one size does not fit all.

Energy use varies wildly between sites — and so should your approach to managing it. Whether you're chasing cost savings, aiming for compliance, or future-proofing your facility’s energy strategy, the right system makes all the difference. And when you're working with a world-leading brand like Socomec, it's less about whether the technology can do the job, and more about choosing the product that’s the best fit for your job.

So, let’s break it down.

The Socomec Range at a Glance

Socomec’s range of meters is vast, scalable and — when set up correctly — extremely powerful. Here’s how it breaks down:

Countis P: Reliable, Basic Energy Monitoring

Your go-to for basic, compliant energy monitoring. Perfect for straightforward jobs like tenancy metering, retail, small commercial installs, or anywhere you need quick NCC-compliant sub-metering.

''COUNTIS P meters are ideal for hospital sites, warehouses, offices — they do a great job of tracking the basics like EV chargers, lighting, HVAC, and solar, even all at once,” Fekra explains. “One COUNTIS P meter can handle up to four loads. It saves on space, time, and cost.”

DIRIS A: Advanced Monitoring with Power Quality Insight

DIRIS A, is a smarter option for sites with complex electrical loads — think motors, VSDs, or anything sensitive to harmonics.

“These give you deeper insight, individual harmonic analysis, and optional cloud connectivity,” says Fekra. “They’re great for schools, data centres, or commercial buildings where power quality matters.”

You can also set up alarms, thresholds, and monthly reports to help track and act on energy events in real time.

Digiware: The Smart, Scalable, Premium Choice

If Countis P is your efficient entry point, and DIRIS A adds brains — Digiware is the full central nervous system.

Socomec’s Digiware platform is the most intelligent, modular energy monitoring system on the market today. Designed for larger, more complex, or growing sites, it offers unmatched scalability, customisation, and visibility, all in one unified ecosystem.

You can monitor multiple loads, across multiple panels or buildings, using just one head-end device — making it ideal for campuses, hospitals, high-rise commercial spaces, and industrial sites. Digiware enables real-time diagnostics, clean data aggregation, and seamless expansion over time.

“The beauty of Digiware is that you can mix and match — Countis P, DIRIS A, all within the same system,” says Fekra. “You get this unified interface, but with tailored metering for each load. It’s scalable, and it’s future-ready.”

Digiware helps unlock:

• Centralised monitoring across your entire site
• Granular visibility at the circuit level
• Accurate, clean data for ESG and compliance reporting
• Remote diagnostics and threshold alerts to act before problems escalate
• Faster, simpler commissioning with fewer devices and wiring  

Because of its modular build, Digiware eliminates the need for bulky wiring and multiple meters per panel. You simply add modules as needed — making it easier (and more cost-effective) to monitor new assets or floors as your site evolves.

“It’s not just smarter, it’s neater,” Fekra adds. “You’re not stuck with a tangle of meters. Everything talks to one another and looks clean inside the board.”

Misconceptions About Energy Monitoring

A common misconception is that energy monitoring only matters if you can change when or how you use equipment. But insight doesn’t have to mean disruption.

“There are still things you can do to save money or protect your assets — even if you can’t change how the site operates,” says Fekra. “But without the data, you won’t even know where the issues are.”

Take sensitive medical equipment, like an X-ray machine. You can’t just power it down during peak periods — and you shouldn’t have to. But if you’re unknowingly feeding it poor-quality power, you’re risking expensive faults and faster degradation. With the right data, you can identify those issues and fix them without ever turning the machine off.

Another big one? “We already have a meter — so we’re covered.”

Maybe. But one meter usually tells you how much energy you’re using overall — not where that usage is coming from, or why. Without more granular data, you’re guessing.

“People often rely on habits or what worked at their last site,” says Fekra. “But every building is different. You need to design based on this site — not the one before it.”

For example, in a manufacturing plant, data might suggest shifting heavy-load machines to run overnight. That’s a smart, strategic move. But in a doctor’s clinic, it’s not practical — and that’s fine. The point is: let the data inform what’s possible, instead of assuming nothing is.

Then there’s the personal bias:

“Well, at home, off-peak times are cheaper — so surely the same logic applies here.”  That kind of thinking is natural — but risky. What works at home, or in another office, or last year, won’t necessarily work for your current setup.

“Don’t let emotions or habits drive your energy strategy,” says Fekra. “Let the data speak. Because what you think is happening and what’s actually happening are often very different.”

NHP’s tech service team helps you get the most from your system, whether through full commissioning or tailored support to fit your needs. This includes setting up dashboards, alarms, reports, and more — so you get meaningful data from day one.

“Contractors will often say, ‘You do the rest,’ once the wiring’s done. But good setup is what turns raw data into real insight,” says Fekra.

“For example, one Australian chain using Socomec’s energy monitoring range trialled a small change — reducing oven temperatures by just 2°C and cooking a bit longer. The data showed them exactly where to focus. The trial proved successful, so they rolled it out across multiple sites, and when scaled, that small adjustment delivered serious cost savings.”

Plan Ahead with a Free Consultation

Whether you’re exploring energy monitoring options or planning an upgrade, our free consultations help you review your designs, clarify your goals, and prepare your system for future needs. Getting expert advice early can save you time and money down the track and ensure your setup fits your current and future requirements.

Before booking a consultation and to help us understand your needs, you might want to think about:

• What kind of site are you working with?
• What energy information matters most to you — and why? (For example, cost savings, compliance, or ESG goals) 
• How do you see your energy management evolving? Will you need your system to grow or meet new reporting requirements in the future?