The latest version of the Matter standard, version 1.3, brings a comprehensive energy management system (EMS) to the smart home for the first time. This system is designed to enable the measurement, analysis, and intelligent control of the energy consumption of a wide variety of devices, which is becoming increasingly important in light of rising energy prices and sustainability goals.
New features and device support in Matter 1.3
Matter 1.3 offers, for the first time, specialized data clusters for energy management. These include the "Electrical Energy Measurement Cluster" and the "Electrical Power Measurement Cluster." These clusters collect and transmit data on the current and cumulative energy consumption of devices. This includes real-time power measurements (for example, the current wattage of a connected device) and cumulative measurements over time, which can be used, for example, for energy reports.
This technology is currently primarily integrated into metered sockets, smart wall boxes, and power strips, but can be extended to all device classes that support Matter and have or can simulate the necessary measurement functions. This allows consumption values to be estimated, for example, in washing machines or heaters, even when no measurement hardware is installed.
Use cases and optimization options
The Matter standard enables flexible control of energy consumption through predefined functions. This allows switching operations to be automatically coordinated with peak consumption or times when electricity is most convenient. In a Matter system, end devices can transmit information about their planned energy consumption to a central system, which can then adjust start or break times. For example, a smart home hub could ensure that all entertainment electronics are turned off when the television goes into standby mode.
Electric vehicle charging stations (EVSE) and other energy-intensive devices also benefit from Matter 1.3. Power forecast reporting and controls such as start-time adjustments can better distribute high loads on the power grid and reduce energy costs.
Advantages for the smart home and outlook
The integration of energy management into Matter is intended to increase interoperability and efficiency in smart homes without the need for proprietary solutions. Through the standardized transmission and visualization of energy data, users and operators of smart home systems are able to gain detailed insights into energy consumption and implement targeted optimizations.
In the future, additional AI-supported functions for predicting and adjusting energy consumption could also be integrated. These new capabilities promise not only greater comfort but also a reduction in energy costs and environmental impact.
Accesories
