Prepaid Electricity - Sectional Title

[Clayton.Brink]

I am in the process of investigating the options that I have regarding the installation of a prepaid electricity meter. I have attempted to research this subject but am only able to find general info on prepaid and nothing specific to prepaid within a sectional title. If I have missed a thread reading this please point me in the right direction. If not perhaps this can serve to add value to any existing prepaid information regarding sectional title.

A little background:

Our complexes managing agent looks after the electricity by reading the meters and purchasing bulk electricity from city power, although this seems to work better than relying on the council there is still the human element and problems do occur.

If anyone living in a sectional title complex has gone though the same investigation and installed prepaid please reply and enlighten me.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

 

[mr_norris]

I remember reading someone elses post here about Prepaid. He mentioned that while Prepaid is a bit more expensive, his electricity came down as he had direct control over it, and the one giving him the bills couldn't over-inflate it.

A large part of me wishes I lived with a Prepaid system. I seem to be targeted quite often because I have a portable air-con. I know they're expensive to run, but sheesh, I think my landlord goes too far sometimes.

 

[Clayton.Brink]

Ok wait, I found something...

http://www.paddocks.co.za/paddocks-press-newsletter/563-pre-paid-meters-in-sectional-tile-schemes

It appears that its not viable to install prepaid in one of the units and that all of the units should get the installation done, sounds like quite a mission. Herewith an excerpt from the article...

Practicality
Both Cape Town City and the Gauteng prepaid meter suppliers consulted during the preparation of this article say that, although it is possible in theory to provide prepaid meters to only some of the sections in a scheme, it is not practicable. This means that the whole scheme would have to be converted. Most schemes require extensive rewiring and re-plumbing for the installation of separate meters.

Surely it depends on the amount of work to install the unit? if rewiring etc needs to be done then fine, I agree. But if its a simple installation then surely it makes sense for an owner to do this on his own?

Anyone agree / disagree with this?

 

[isie]

I am in the process of investigating the options that I have regarding the installation of a prepaid electricity meter. I have attempted to research this subject but am only able to find general info on prepaid and nothing specific to prepaid within a sectional title. If I have missed a thread reading this please point me in the right direction. If not perhaps this can serve to add value to any existing prepaid information regarding sectional title.

A little background:

Our complexes managing agent looks after the electricity by reading the meters and purchasing bulk electricity from city power, although this seems to work better than relying on the council there is still the human element and problems do occur.

If anyone living in a sectional title complex has gone though the same investigation and installed prepaid please reply and enlighten me.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Chances are the complex you are in has one Council meter for the entire complex and each unit has their Private metres thats what your managing agent is reading - I doubt they actually buy electricity in bulk just pay the bill for the mai one and charge you guys per unit?

With regard to prepaid - my info is a bit outdated but in my old complex we enquired from City power about converting each unit to prepaid as opposed to having single meter for the complex and they wanted to charge a ridiculous amount per unit and of course it depended on every unit in the complex going to prepaid

 

[Fudzy]

It would have to be everyone or no one, otherwise each month you'll have to prove to the letting agent that you've paid your portion of the bill from the bulk meter (it would be supplying the prepaid meters I assume?) I would push for individual meters just from a cost saving exercise. Unless you're the one abusing the electricity you'll find somebody in your complex is and it's the easiest way to drop prices. We recently had individual water meters installed at my complex and the monthly costs on water have dropped considerably.

 

[Clayton.Brink]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm certainly going to raise this with our trustees. Fortunately we have a fairly small complex so hopefully the owners will buy in.

I'll let you know how it goes.