# When can a CBAM operator skip a monitoring method as too costly?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/cbam-unreasonable-cost-rule-monitoring

Only with a justification in the monitoring plan, tested against a reference price of €80 per tonne of CO2e and an accumulated limit of €4,000 a year. The Commission's steel guidance sets out this test, and the verifier will check it.

## How to use it

1. Identify the more accurate method you are not using, such as a new meter.
2. Estimate its cost and the improvement in accuracy.
3. Write the justification into the monitoring plan.
4. Keep the workings for the verifier.

## What it does not allow

Skipping monitoring altogether. You still need a method for every parameter; the rule only lets you choose a less costly one.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads an exporter's fuel and electricity invoices into dated, fingerprinted records that a monitoring plan and a verifier can trace back to source. Senseible does not verify emissions, register operators in the CBAM Registry or file CBAM declarations.

- [Monitoring methodology document contents](https://senseible.earth/answers/cbam-monitoring-methodology-document-contents)
- [Measurement or calculation method](https://senseible.earth/answers/cbam-measurement-or-calculation-method-choice)
- [CBAM virtual site visits](https://senseible.earth/answers/cbam-virtual-site-visit-when-allowed)

Sources: [European Commission, CBAM Guidance No. 5d, iron and steel](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/3eb64513-8255-4c71-875a-bd0a8c7ff772_en?filename=Guidance%20No.%205d%20-%20Sector-specific%20guidance%20document%20on%20iron%20and%20steel.pdf), [European Commission, CBAM Guidance No. 2, quick guide for non-EU operators (14 August 2026)](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/91e1056c-4524-4705-aaa7-e25c1439a87a_en?filename=Guidance%20No.%202%20-%20Quick%20guide%20for%20non-EU%20operators%20on%20CBAM%20implementation.pdf)

Last reviewed 2026-10-23.