name: Sense FinOps
description: >-
  Sense uses a one-time hardware purchase model, which means API and platform
  costs are fixed at the point of device acquisition rather than variable based
  on usage volume. There are no metered API call charges, data transfer fees,
  or subscription costs associated with using the Sense Client API or Realtime
  WebSocket feed. FinOps considerations for Sense center on the initial capital
  expenditure for monitor hardware, potential return on investment from energy
  savings achieved through monitoring insights, and for utility partners, the
  program incentive structures tied to measurable demand reduction.
specificationVersion: '1.0'
currency: USD
costs:
  - name: Monitor Hardware (Standard)
    description: >-
      One-time capital expenditure for the Sense Home Energy Monitor hardware
      device, including installation materials. Provides lifetime API access
      with no additional recurring costs.
    type: CapEx
    amount: 299.00
    currency: USD
    unit: one-time
    category: Hardware
  - name: Monitor Hardware (Solar)
    description: >-
      One-time capital expenditure for the Sense Home Energy Monitor with solar
      monitoring capability. Includes dual current transformers for grid and
      solar measurement.
    type: CapEx
    amount: 349.00
    currency: USD
    unit: one-time
    category: Hardware
  - name: API Access
    description: >-
      REST Client API (api.sense.com) and WebSocket Realtime API
      (clientrt.sense.com) access are included at no additional cost with any
      hardware purchase. No per-call charges, no data egress fees, no
      subscription required.
    type: Included
    amount: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: included
    category: API
  - name: Mobile App Access
    description: >-
      iOS and Android mobile applications and the web portal (home.sense.com)
      are free to download and use. No premium tier or in-app purchases.
    type: Included
    amount: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: included
    category: Software
  - name: Firmware Updates
    description: >-
      Ongoing over-the-air firmware updates and machine learning device
      detection model improvements are delivered at no cost throughout the
      product lifecycle.
    type: Included
    amount: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: included
    category: Maintenance
savings:
  - name: Energy Reduction ROI
    description: >-
      Sense reports average annual energy savings of 4 to 8 percent for
      households using the monitor. At a US average electricity rate of
      approximately $0.16 per kWh and an average annual household usage of
      10,500 kWh, a 6% reduction yields roughly $100 annually. The hardware
      cost of $299 would achieve payback in approximately 3 years under average
      conditions, with ongoing savings thereafter.
    type: Savings
    estimatedAnnualSavings: 63.00
    estimatedAnnualSavingsHigh: 100.00
    currency: USD
    basis: 6% average energy reduction on average US household consumption
  - name: Utility Program Incentives
    description: >-
      For utility-partnered deployments, Sense earns incentive payments through
      state energy efficiency programs when customers demonstrably reduce or
      shift electricity consumption during demand response events. Homeowners in
      eligible territories receive free monitor access funded through these
      program payments.
    type: ProgramIncentive
    amount: 0.00
    currency: USD
    basis: Utility program funded; no direct cost to homeowner
notes:
  - >-
    Sense announced in late 2025 that it would stop selling the standalone
    monitor by December 31, 2025. Existing monitors continue to receive full
    support and API access at no additional cost.
  - >-
    The company is embedding its machine learning technology into
    next-generation smart meters (AMI 2.0) deployed by utility partners,
    shifting the primary distribution model from consumer hardware sales to
    utility infrastructure partnerships.
  - >-
    All API access (REST and WebSocket) is authenticated via bearer tokens
    obtained through credential authentication. No API key purchase or
    developer account registration is required beyond owning a Sense monitor.