An energy consumption monitoring system comprises n electrical sensor (2), a processor (3) adapted to recognise appliances according to inputs from the sensor, and a user interface. The processor generates, in a training phase, an appliance energy profile for each of a plurality of appliances, and uses artificial intelligence functions to identify usage of a particular appliance according to sensor outputs and the appliance profiles. At least some profiles identify the associated appliance as one or a combination of resistive, inductive, or capacitive components, and at least some profiles identify predicted variation patterns for said components, and include parameter values for real power, reactive power, and power factor.