Current Cost
Current Cost manufactures real-time home energy monitors that display electricity and gas consumption in monetary terms, selling hardware through UK utility partnerships (SSE, E.ON, Npower) and direct online channels to residential households.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersAldershot, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Current Cost does
Current Cost is a UK-based manufacturer of real-time residential energy monitoring hardware, founded in 2004 by electrical engineer Martin Dix in Aldershot, Hampshire. The company designs and sells display devices (The Classic, Envi, EnviR, CC128) that show households their live electricity and gas consumption in monetary terms, with add-on modules including transmitters, Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs), the NetSmart Bridge for internet connectivity, and the GaSmart gas-monitoring add-on. Central to the product ecosystem is the proprietary C2 communication protocol, which enables all Current Cost devices to interoperate; users can also view historical data through the my.currentcost.com web dashboard. The company manufactures through partners in China and distributes both directly via its website and through channel partnerships with major UK utilities including Scottish and Southern Electric, E.ON, and Npower, which bundle monitors into energy efficiency tariffs and trials.
Current Cost operates a hardware sales revenue model, supplemented by data-accessory and software download sales. The company also pursues government and housing association channels through its earlier collaboration with DEFRA and OFGEM on the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) programme. By 2010, Current Cost had sold over 1 million units cumulatively and was described as the UK's most experienced manufacturer of real-time energy displays, with international distribution reaching the United States, France, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland. Reported headcount remains in the 1-10 range, indicating a capital-efficient operating model reliant on contract manufacturing and channel-led distribution rather than large internal scale.
Current Cost firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Current Cost
- Legal name
- Current Cost Ltd
- Website
- https://currentcost.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Current Cost manufactures real-time home energy monitors that display electricity and gas consumption in monetary terms, selling hardware through UK utility partnerships (SSE, E.ON, Npower) and direct online channels to residential households.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Current Cost industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Energy Monitoring Hardware
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customer Energy Engagement (In-Home Displays, Portals, Usage Insights) (EUADAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Customer Self-Service Portals & Digital Experience (Web/Mobile) (EUAJAHAK)
Keywords
Where Current Cost is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aldershot
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Current Cost business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of energy monitoring devices including The Classic, Envi, EnviR, transmitters, data cables, and accessories. Products sold through utility companies and retail channels.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Current Cost product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Current Cost designs, manufactures, and sells real-time electricity and gas consumption monitoring hardware for households and energy utilities. The product range centres on display units (The Classic, Envi, EnviR, CC128) and is extended through interoperable add-on modules (NetSmart Bridge, Transmitters, IAMs, GaSmart) unified by the proprietary C2 communication protocol, with data accessible via a web dashboard for behavioural energy reduction.
Product overview
Current Cost offers a comprehensive energy monitoring ecosystem centered on real-time electricity and gas consumption displays. The product lineup includes The Classic and Envi/EnviR as core display monitors, with the CC128 representing the second-generation display. The system is extended through add-on modules including the NetSmart Bridge (internet connectivity), Transmitters (multiple variants including OptiSmart), Data Cable, Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs), and the GaSmart gas monitoring add-on. Central to the ecosystem is the proprietary C2 Technology, which enables device interoperability. Users access data through the my.currentcost.com web dashboard. The company also offered desktop software including Google PowerMeter Desktop and HomeSmart Desktop applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C2 Technology: Proprietary technology found in every Current Cost device, allowing them to communicate with each other. C2 is available in individual recognition plugs, standard meters, and load management devices.
Products and services
- The Classic Entry-level Current Cost real-time electricity consumption monitor that displays household energy use and cost, used by residential households and supplied through utility energy efficiency tariffs.
- Envi Current Cost energy monitor with enhanced display features for monitoring household electricity consumption in real time.
- EnviR Advanced Current Cost energy monitor with enhanced display, data logging capabilities, and support for multiple transmitters and sensors; can monitor gas consumption when paired with the GaSmart add-on.
- CC128 Second-generation Current Cost display unit launched in December 2008 as the successor to The Classic, with improved features and functionality.
- NetSmart Bridge Internet connectivity upgrade / network bridge that connects Current Cost monitors to the internet and posts data to the my.currentcost.com web dashboard for remote monitoring and historical tracking.
- Transmitter Wireless transmitter that sends electricity meter data to Current Cost display units, available in standard, mini, OptiSmart, and Senseable variants.
- Trec Current Cost energy monitoring device for tracking electricity consumption.
- Data Cable Cable connection that allows users to directly download energy data from Current Cost monitors to a PC for data export, analysis, and device configuration.
- Individual Appliance Monitors (IAMs) Plug-in devices that monitor the energy consumption of individual appliances, enabling per-appliance energy tracking through the C2 protocol ecosystem.
- OptiSmart Reader Device that reads the optical output from electricity meters, enabling non-intrusive meter data collection for Current Cost systems.
- EcoManager Energy monitoring system with enhanced data management capabilities for tracking household energy consumption.
- GaSmart Gas consumption monitoring add-on that extends EnviR and NetSmart capabilities to track gas usage alongside electricity on the Current Cost online Dashboard.
Companies that use Current Cost
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Current Cost technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
Current Cost partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- E.ONcoreE.ON launched its Energy Saver v6 tariff using The Classic currentcost display in May 2008.
- NpowercoreNpower trials The Classic for its fuel poor initiative in September 2007.
- Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE)coreSSE agreed to the largest trial of its kind in the UK with 5,000 homes trialling the new monitor in July 2007. Provided £250,000 funding and orders. Also ordered The Classic for its better plan tariff.
- DEFRAcoreCurrent Cost began working with DEFRA to create a device that would encourage behavioral change and should be included in their EEC (Energy Efficiency Commitment) programme.
- OFGEMcoreCollaborated with DEFRA and OFGEM to create energy monitoring devices for national distribution through utility companies. First product trial with OFGEM occurred in July 2007.
- 1010minor1010 widget partnership for promoting Current Cost products.
- RNLIminorCurrent Cost is proud to support RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) as a charitable partner.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Current Cost competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sense: AI-driven home energy monitor that disaggregates appliance-level usage from a single sensor at the electrical panel and surfaces insights via a mobile/web app. Competes with Current Cost's IAM and NetSmart-based per-appliance monitoring offering.
- Smappee: Smart home energy monitor that combines a real-time display unit, individual appliance monitors, and cloud dashboard. Comparable to Current Cost's EnviR + IAM + my.currentcost.com stack and targets residential and SMB energy management use cases.
- Plugwise: European home energy management provider offering in-home displays, smart switches, and energy insights integrated into utility demand-response programmes. Directly comparable to Current Cost's hardware-plus-portal-plus-utility-channel model.
- Geo (Green Energy Options / PassivSystems): UK provider of in-home energy displays and energy efficiency services, supplying monitor solutions through energy utilities (e.g., British Gas, SSE). Direct competitor to Current Cost's UK utility-distributed display business.
- OWL (Networked Energy): UK-headquartered manufacturer of in-home electricity and gas monitors with display units and web dashboards. Closest direct peer to Current Cost — same customer (UK households), same product category (real-time in-home displays), same utility-distribution playbook.
- Efergy: Manufacturer of real-time home electricity and gas monitors with current-cost-style in-home displays and online portals. Competes head-to-head with Current Cost's Classic, EnviR, and GaSmart products across residential customers and energy awareness programmes.
- Curb: US residential energy intelligence platform providing circuit-level monitoring and usage analytics. Overlaps with Current Cost's transmitter-and-IAM-based appliance-level monitoring and my.currentcost.com dashboard experience.
Emerging players
- Flair: Smart home climate and energy management platform combining ventilation control with energy telemetry. Adjacent technology base and overlapping residential energy-engagement use case make it a comparable emerging player in the UK energy monitoring category.
Broad incumbents
- Schneider Electric (Wiser Energy): Multinational energy management and automation major with a residential Wiser Energy monitoring offering (in-home displays, cloud app, smart panel sensors). Validates the category Current Cost helped create but competes across a much wider portfolio and global footprint.
- Hive (Centrica / British Gas): British Gas-owned smart home platform including heating, hot water, and energy usage insights. Competes with Current Cost from a utility-installer position with bundled tariffs in the same UK market where Current Cost's largest channel partners distribute.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Current Cost social profiles
Digital presenceCurrent Cost financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Current Cost leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Current Cost funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Current Cost M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Current Cost
What does Current Cost do?
Current Cost designs, manufactures, and sells real-time electricity and gas consumption monitoring hardware for households and energy utilities. The product range centres on display units (The Classic, Envi, EnviR, CC128) and is extended through interoperable add-on modules (NetSmart Bridge, Transmitters, IAMs, GaSmart) unified by the proprietary C2 communication protocol, with data accessible via a web dashboard for behavioural energy reduction.
Is Current Cost a public or private company?
Current Cost is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Current Cost founded?
Current Cost was founded in 2004. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Current Cost based?
Current Cost is headquartered in Aldershot, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Current Cost make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales.
Who are Current Cost's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sense, Smappee, Plugwise, Geo (Green Energy Options / PassivSystems), OWL (Networked Energy), Efergy and Curb. Flair is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Schneider Electric (Wiser Energy) and Hive (Centrica / British Gas).
Does Current Cost have an API?
No public API is recorded for Current Cost.
What industry is Current Cost in?
Current Cost's product category is Smart Energy Monitoring Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADAFAH, Customer Energy Engagement (In-Home Displays, Portals, Usage Insights), with a secondary code of EUAJAHAK, Customer Self-Service Portals & Digital Experience (Web/Mobile). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.