This is what is given at maxim website....
The MAXQ3180 is a dedicated electricity measurement front-end that collects and calculates polyphase voltage, current, power, energy, and many other metering and power-quality parameters of a polyphase load. The computed results can be retrieved by an external master through the on-chip serial peripheral interface (SPIā¢) bus. This bus is also used by the external master to configure the operation of the MAXQ3180 and monitor the status of operations.
Have you used it practically? because it seems to be a very handy and efficient way of doing it...