Abstract: A method for an alarm system is intended in particular for the monitoring of service apartments for elderly and/or handicapped persons. The energy consumption of each apartment is recorded over a period, for example in a computer. The results are presented in the form of a reference curve or standard curve for each apartment. Thereafter the actual energy consumption is compared with the value for the normal curve, and alarms of various kinds and of various degrees of urgency are triggered if the values differ by a predetermined amount.