Well I multimeter'd them, and it said energy request as 0. I am not totally sure what this means. EU is just so much more easy to manage/tweek in terms of system.
The main problem with shut-off via redstone signal, is that (for fermenter)....
2 input AE export, 1 for fertilizer, 1 for saplings
1 input power
1 input water/juice
1 output
I wish conductive piping didn't suck dick.