Sub metering electricity

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shadow_man

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I've got a small flatlet attached to my house. I'd like to let it out, but I obviously need to be able to monitor / limit the electricity usage as needed.

1.) house has 1x DB board + 1x prepaid meter (electricity supplied by CoCT)
2.) flatlet has 1x DB board and is supplied off the same meter as the house

Can I simply install a sub meter and have tenants pay the CoCT rate? (without having to hand off money to a 3rd party vendor for admin / higher electricity rates / fee's.)

Or can I simply connect something to their DB board that will monitor their usage and then I bill them manually at the CoCT rates.

I'd prefer to not involve a 3rd party vendor that makes markup off me / tenants. What are my options and any idea on cost?

Thanks!
 
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Yes. I would also suggest that you charge him one tier higher than your current rate. A tenant can easily put you on the next tier.
 
Akafreakazoid said:
Why don't you just have a pre paid meter installed in the flat as well?
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

The cost.

Currently.
Muni-house-flat
So it would mean rerouting the wiring from muni point directly to flat.
If the op puts a private meter at the flat the tenant can see op charging him for right units, and then no need for the other expense.
 
Venomous said:
:rolleyes:

The cost.

Currently.
Muni-house-flat
So it would mean rerouting the wiring from muni point directly to flat.
If the op puts a private meter at the flat the tenant can see op charging him for right units, and then no need for the other expense.
Click to expand...

OP said the ones he's found could be up to 30% inaccurate. Hence my question since it would end up paying for itself.
 
Akafreakazoid said:
Why don't you just have a pre paid meter installed in the flat as well?
Click to expand...

AFAIK you can't have 2x municipal meters on the same property UNLESS you subdivide and turn it in to two properties. Given that a) that's a huge cost b) unnecessary , i'm not keen to do it.

Unless anyone here can tell me otherwise?
 
Get a prepaid meter installed for the flat and save yourself a lot of headaches and admin. Tenants will be directly responsible for their own electricity and it won't be your problem, no money, no electricity end of story.

If you just sub meter and let them pay you, they can fall behind, don't have cash now and you feel sorry for them etc. etc. Before you know it, you sit with a electric bill of R15K which you can't pay, then councel cuts off your electricity as well as theirs.

Out of experience, prepaid electricity meters solves a lot of issues when it comes to rental property.
 
bigboy529 said:
Get a prepaid meter installed for the flat and save yourself a lot of headaches and admin. Tenants will be directly responsible for their own electricity and it won't be your problem, no money, no electricity end of story.

If you just sub meter and let them pay you, they can fall behind, don't have cash now and you feel sorry for them etc. etc. Before you know it, you sit with a electric bill of R15K which you can't pay, then councel cuts off your electricity as well as theirs.

Out of experience, prepaid electricity meters solves a lot of issues when it comes to rental property.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The last thing you want is a municipality bill of R5k+ cause they refuse to pay. Get them a prepaid meter and let them pay their own electricity.
 
I figured I'd post a quick update.

I looked at both MeterMate and Citiq for sub meter vendoring and some are real ripoffs (read Citiq). I've opted to go with MeterMate - install should take place on Monday. I'll update then with some pics / maybe a quick review of the system.

My current setup is: CoCT electricity supplied > house prepaid meter > house db > flat db
New setup should be: CoCT electricity supplied > house prepaid meter > house db > MeterMate sub meter > flat db

———————————————————————————————————
A quick summary of fee's I found below:
———————————————————————————————————

Vendor: Citiq
Scenario: Tenant buys from Citiq / PNP / Spar etc etc
8.75% of voucher value goes to Citiq - payable by either tenant or owner (you choose)
Merchant fee of 3.95% - 4% (depending on where you buy power, this is an added fee if tenant buys from another OTHER than Citiq, if they buy from Citiq this fee is waived).

———————————————————————————————————

Vendor: MeterMate

OPTION1:
Scenario: Tenant buys from PNP / Spar etc etc
R50 admin fee (payable monthly)
R5 per voucher fee deducted per purchase

OPTION2:
Scenario: Landlord buys vouchers from MeterMate and vends them to tenant, tenant buys from landlord
R5 voucher fee deducted per purchase

———————————————————————————————————

It really annoys the **** out of me when companies price gouge customers (especially the poorer people who generally tend to be paying these sub metered rates).
 
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