IJEID Published Article

Abstract Manual energy monitoring and billing in multi-unit residential properties remain time-consuming, error-prone, and susceptible to disputes between landlords and tenants. The absence of integrated automation for real-time consumption tracking, billing generation, notification, and power control highlights the need for a unified and cost-effective solution. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate an Energy Monitoring Device with SMS Notification and automated billing features tailored for small-scale residential applications. A developmental research approach guided by an iterative design model was employed, involving prototype fabrication, functionality testing, and statistical performance validation. The system integrates an Arduino MEGA2560 microcontroller, PZEM-004T energy sensor, SIM800 GSM module, solid-state relay (SSR), and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module to enable real-time monitoring, SMS-based communication, automated billing computation, and remote power disconnection. Efficiency and reliability were evaluated using a one-sample t-test to compare SMS transmission time against a 32.7-second benchmark and an F-test to assess variance between device-measured energy readings and conventional submeter calculations. Results indicated 100% functional performance across core features. The t-test revealed a statistically significant improvement in SMS efficiency, while the F-test confirmed no significant difference in energy measurement and billing accuracy. The developed prototype demonstrates technical reliability, operational efficiency, and practical applicability for residential energy management, offering landlords a scalable and automated alternative to manual billing systems.