SMEG targets Monaco's 'shadow energy' in efficiency drive
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
SMEG has spent since 2018 investigating unexplained electricity consumption that once accounted for roughly half of all usage recorded on bills.
SMEG, the Principality's electricity and gas utility, has been working since 2018 to track down what engineers call 'shadow energy', consumption that shows up on a customer's bill but cannot be traced to any identifiable appliance or system. At the outset of the programme, around 50% of electricity use fell into this unexplained category, a gap that matters both for household budgets and for Monaco's broader push towards energy efficiency.
For residents and property owners, shadow energy often means paying for consumption linked to standby devices, ageing wiring, poorly configured smart systems or faults that go unnoticed for months. In a Principality where many buildings combine historic infrastructure with modern renovations, pinpointing these losses requires detailed monitoring rather than guesswork.
SMEG's investigation reflects a wider shift in how utilities operate in Monaco, where energy transition targets and the cost of electricity make it increasingly important to understand exactly where consumption goes. The findings are likely to inform how building managers and private owners are advised to audit their own systems going forward.