CEEA™ vs. Leviton Smart Panel: Smarter Energy Management Without Breaker Lock-In
The Leviton® Smart Panel—formally the Leviton Load Center with Smart Breakers—gives homeowners app-based monitoring and breaker notifications. It’s a solid product, but it requires proprietary breakers and a complete panel swap, which drives costs up quickly.[1] By contrast, the CEEA™ Professional Energy Monitor delivers circuit-level visibility, smart receptacle control, EV charger integration, solar monitoring, and battery ESS support—all while working with your existing panel.
Cost & Installation Differences
- Leviton hardware: Load center base ~$1,000–$1,500.[2]
- Smart breakers: ~$100–$120 each. Outfitting 30–40 circuits often totals $3,500–$4,500 just in breakers.[2]
- Total installed cost: Many projects land in the $4,000–$7,000+ range, depending on labor and breaker count.[3]
- Installation scope: Requires a licensed electrician to replace the entire panel, install smart breakers, and re-terminate all branch circuits.
In short: Leviton delivers smart functionality, but you’re locked into ongoing costs with proprietary breakers and a full panel swap.
What CEEA™ Provides
The CEEA™ Professional Energy Monitor avoids breaker lock-in and delivers broad capability:
- ✅ Circuit-level monitoring without panel replacement
- ✅ CEEA™ Smart Receptacle Plugs for targeted device control
- ✅ EV charger integration for efficient charging management
- ✅ Solar production monitoring alongside household usage
- ✅ Battery ESS integration for backup and storage coordination
- ✅ Affordable install—monitoring hardware typically under $700–$1,500 plus accessories
Feature Comparison
| Capability | Leviton Smart Panel | CEEA™ Professional Energy Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit-level monitoring | ✅ (with smart breakers)[1] | ✅ |
| Remote breaker shutoff | ✅ (via smart breakers)[1] | ❌ (uses receptacle-level control) |
| Smart receptacle/device control | ❌ | ✅ (CEEA™ Smart Receptacle Plugs) |
| EV charger integration | ❌ | ✅ |
| Solar monitoring | ❌ | ✅ |
| Battery ESS integration | ❌ | ✅ |
| Installation approach | Full panel + smart breakers | Retrofit with existing panel |
| Typical total project cost | $4,000–$7,000+[3] | $700–$1,500 + options |
| Ongoing requirements | Must purchase Leviton smart breakers for every monitored circuit | No proprietary breakers required |
Bottom Line
The Leviton® Smart Panel is a solid choice for those comfortable with higher upfront and ongoing costs tied to proprietary smart breakers. For most homeowners, the CEEA™ Professional Energy Monitor delivers the monitoring and control features that matter—plus EV charging, solar tracking, and ESS integration—without the breaker lock-in and at a fraction of the cost.
