A method for receiving a circuit layout including modules in a hierarchical structure. The method includes selecting a module in the hierarchical structure, identifying multiple toggling netlists in the module during multiple clock cycles, grouping the toggling netlists into clusters based on a toggle weight factor, and finding an average toggle weight factor for each cluster. The method includes generating instrument logic to determine a power consumption of the circuit layout based on a number of toggling netlists in each cluster for each clock cycle, and on the average toggle weight factor for each cluster, merging, with a compiler tool, the instrument logic with the circuit layout into an executable file for an emulator tool. The method includes evaluating the power consumption of the circuit layout with the emulator tool; and modifying the circuit layout when the power consumption of the circuit layout exceeds a pre-selected threshold.