Wireless sensor networks comprise of a large number of low cost sensor nodes that have strictly restricted sensing, computation and communication capabilities. In addition to this, sensor nodes have limited battery life which is not rechargeable in many applications. Due to resource limitations for the sensor nodes, it is important to use energy efficiently for each sensor node. This will result in prolonged network lifetime and functionality. Energy consumption balancing (ECB) property ensures that the average energy dissipation per sensor is equal for all sensors in the network. ECB can be considered as energy efficiency property that optimally manages energy consumption of sensors to prolong network lifetime. This paper investigates the ECB theory and ECB related mechanisms. A classification of ECB mechanism is given by surveying the current and state of the art research in this area. In addition, comparison and main constraints of the mechanisms are presented. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.