What controlled switching actually does
Controlled switching is the automated decision to power a device or storage system on or off based on external conditions — most importantly the current electricity price. Instead of a battery charging whenever it happens to be plugged in, a controller decides when charging and discharging make economic sense.
The Stromfee-Steckdose (based on a Shelly switch) applies this principle at the socket level: it charges and discharges battery systems depending on electricity prices and availability, so that stored energy is built up when power is cheap and used when it would otherwise be expensive.
AI-driven, price-aware control
Stromfee.AI adds a control layer on top of the switching hardware. AI can dynamically steer energy-intensive processes, so that devices with high consumption are automatically activated at moments when electricity prices are low.
This turns a home or site into an active participant in energy management rather than a passive consumer. By continuously monitoring the system, the AI also detects possible faults or malfunctions in machines and systems at an early stage, enabling predictive maintenance before costly failures occur.
Battery storage and day-ahead arbitrage
Battery storage is what makes controlled switching valuable. Without a store, you can only shift loads that happen to be flexible; with a battery, you can decouple when energy is bought from when it is used.
Stromfee's approach uses battery storage together with AI-controlled charging and discharging aligned to day-ahead market prices. The battery is charged during low-price windows and drawn down during high-price windows, so the price spread between cheap and expensive hours becomes a saving.
The switching hardware: Shelly and Loxone
The physical switching is handled by smart components. Smart Shelly switches operate at the socket and circuit level, while a Loxone controller can coordinate multiple loads across a building.
Stromfee has documented how the combination of a Loxone controller and smart Shelly switches improves energy efficiency, forming the actuator layer that the price-aware control logic commands. The switches execute the on/off decisions; the software decides when.
Fitting into an energy management system
Controlled switching is one building block of a wider energy management system. Alongside the switches and storage, such a system includes metering instruments, meters and IT systems for analysing and regulating energy consumption.
Control and regulation technology — including a PLC (programmable logic controller) — is used to intelligently control and regulate energy flows and to automate processes. Investments in this hardware, software, consultancy and staff training can qualify for funding programmes tied to introducing and optimising energy management systems, including certification to standards such as ISO 50001.
FAQ
What is controlled switching for energy?
It is the automated switching of loads or battery storage on and off based on conditions such as the current electricity price and availability, rather than at fixed or random times. The goal is to consume and store energy when it is cheapest.
Do I need a battery for controlled switching?
Not for every case — flexible loads can be shifted on their own. But a battery greatly extends the benefit, because it lets you charge when power is cheap and discharge when it is expensive, decoupling when energy is bought from when it is used.
How does the day-ahead market fit in?
Day-ahead electricity prices vary by hour. Stromfee's AI-controlled storage charges the battery during low-price hours and discharges during high-price hours, so the price difference between those windows becomes a saving.
Which hardware does Stromfee use to switch loads?
Stromfee uses smart Shelly switches at the socket and circuit level, and can coordinate multiple loads with a Loxone controller. A PLC is used in larger setups to intelligently control and regulate energy flows.
