Use case
alert when energy use jumps
Most energy monitoring means creating an account, typing numbers into a form, or buying hardware that plugs into your meter. Nexy lets you photograph the meter when you walk past it, compares the readings over time, and tells you when something has changed without you logging in anywhere.
You photograph your energy meter when you pass it, and Nexy alerts you when usage jumps compared to the same period before. It reads the numbers from the photo, tracks the change over time, and says when it cannot tell — and the person you share the thread with installs nothing and makes no account.
Try this in Nexy, freeStarts on the web. The other person installs nothing.
What it looks like
YouHere's the meter
You[photo of electricity meter showing 08342 kWh]
NexyElectricity: 08342 kWh, up 47 kWh since last week. That's usual for this time of year.
You[photo of the same meter two weeks later showing 08521 kWh]
NexyElectricity: 08521 kWh, up 179 kWh since last reading. That's three times higher than the previous two weeks — something may have changed.
ThemI left the heater on in the garage all week, that's probably it
YouThat explains it, thanks
Nexy compares each reading to previous ones and says when usage jumps without needing manual entry.
How to do it
- Send a photo of your energy meter to Nexy when you walk past it, as often or as rarely as you like.
- Nexy reads the numbers from the photo and records the reading with the date and time.
- Each new photo is compared to previous readings from the same period to spot unusual changes.
- When usage jumps significantly compared to before, Nexy sends you an alert in the same thread.
- If the photo is unclear or the numbers cannot be read, Nexy says so immediately rather than guessing.
Why it works
Where it stops
These limits are the product, not a gap in the roadmap.
Questions people ask
How does Nexy read my energy meter from a photo and know when my usage has jumped without me typing anything in?
You send a photo of the meter display in a chat. Nexy reads the numbers from the image using the same recognition that reads text from any photo, records the reading with the date, and compares it to previous readings from similar periods. When usage is significantly higher than before, it sends an alert in the thread. If the photo is unclear or the numbers cannot be read, it says so immediately rather than guessing or storing a bad reading.
What happens if I forget to photograph the meter for a few weeks, does Nexy still work or does it need regular readings?
It works with whatever frequency you manage. Send a photo every day, every month, or whenever you happen to walk past the meter. Nexy compares each new reading to the previous one and to the same period before, so gaps do not break the comparison. The more readings you send, the more precise the context, but irregular photos are better than no photos.
Can I share this thread with my partner or housemate so they can also see the readings and alerts without setting anything up?
Yes. Anyone in the thread sees the readings and the alerts. They install nothing and make no account — they just get the messages in the chat they already use. One person can send the photos, or everyone can, and Nexy handles readings from any of you. When usage jumps, the alert goes to the whole thread, so everyone knows at once.
Does Nexy connect directly to my smart meter or does it only work from photos I take myself?
It works only from photos you take. Nexy does not connect to your meter, your energy supplier, or any billing system, because that would require the login and account creation this avoids. You photograph the display when you pass it, and Nexy reads the numbers from the image. This works for any meter, smart or not, anywhere in the world.
When Nexy alerts me that usage has jumped, does it tell me which appliance caused it or just that the total went up?
It tells you the total went up, not which appliance caused it. Nexy reads the whole meter, which shows combined usage for everything in the property. Knowing which device is responsible requires hardware that monitors each appliance separately, which you have not installed. The alert gives you the context to investigate — you decide whether it was the heater, the fridge, or something else.
What happens if the photo I send is blurry or the meter is in shadow, does Nexy guess the numbers or tell me it could not read it?
It tells you it could not read it. If the photo is blurry, the display is obscured, or the numbers are unclear, Nexy says so immediately rather than guessing or storing a bad reading. You can send another photo right away, or wait until the lighting is better. Saying when it cannot tell is part of how it works, not a failure.
Does Nexy calculate how much my energy bill will be based on the readings or does it only track the numbers on the meter?
It only tracks the numbers on the meter. Nexy compares kilowatt-hours or cubic metres over time and alerts you when usage jumps, but it does not convert readings into currency or estimate your bill. Tariffs vary, billing periods differ, and prediction introduces doubt. The reading and the comparison are certain; the bill is not.
If I send photos of both the electricity meter and the gas meter, does Nexy track them separately or does it get confused?
It tracks them separately. Nexy recognises which meter is which from the photo — the display format, the unit label, or the context you provide. Each meter gets its own series of readings, and alerts are specific to the one that jumped. You can send photos of as many meters as you have, and they do not interfere with each other.
Do this with Nexy
Start free on the web. Tell Nexy what the two of you agreed on and it takes it from there: it asks, reminds whoever still has to act, and tells everyone when it is done.
Start freeNo app needed to begin, and nothing at all for the other person.
Related use cases
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New here? How Nexy works explains the whole thing in a minute, and the index lists every use case.
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