Large commercial and industrial premises invariably offer three phase Eskom or Municipal electric power as standard to business.
There is a growing move to sub let sections of a larger commercial and industrial premises to tenants which necessitates the need to measure and charge for electricity consumed by the tenant.
In the case of a three phase supply the amount being used by a tenant can become very large in relation to the actual rental.
The difference between a single and a three phase meter:
Typically, all domestic homes and small to medium businesses will have a single phase meter.
With a single phase meter, one alternating current (AC) supplies your property through one single wire. This is enough to power a regular business or home, so long as you don’t have a jacuzzi running 24/7 and a whole fleet of electric vehicles charging outside!
Three phase meters are usually only necessary for larger industrial and commercial businesses that use a lot more electricity. A three phase meter has three wires with three alternating currents (AC) supplying the meter and site, so much more power can be used.
Fortunately three phase prepaid electricity meters are readily available such as the Hexing 3 Phase Prepaid Meter with optional remote keypad. The installation of which does demand a higher grade of knowledge than a single phase prepaid electricity meter and that is where Straton Electrical Prepaid comes in as all installations are done by registered and a properly accredited electricians with years of experience in the commercial and industrial environment.
A little about Prepaid Meters – often referred to as Sub Meters:
Irrespective of the type of sub meter in place, sub meters are privately owned and managed, so the property owner or complex will still have the primary meter in place and will still be responsible for the primary account. Put simply, sub meters are in addition to, and will not be installed without the existence of the primary meter in the first instance. Remember the primary meter is there for Eskom or the Municipality to charge you for what the property has consumed.
Sub meters, just like primary meters, can also either be a post paid meter that is then read each month and the end user billed accordingly or the sub-meter can be prepaid. Sub meters take care of the challenge of fair apportionment as each end user is now responsible to pay for their own consumption. All the revenue collected from the sub meters each month is then used to pay for the primary meter.
How it works:
- Tenant purchases access to electricity via an online app/link OR at any Easy Pay outlet – Checkers, Shoprite, Spar, Engen, BP, Pick ‘n Pay etc.
- Outlet issues a voucher – printed or SMS
- Tenant inputs voucher code
- On the 7th of each month landlord receives, in his/her designated bank account, the tenant purchases amount less payment processing/admin fees plus a statement of purchases made in that period.
- Landlord settles electricity account with Municipality.
When do Prepaid Meters Really Make Sense?
- During water restrictions – such as the present drought in Nelson Mandala Bay
- Multi Tenanted buildings
- Sectional Title Complexes
- Granny Flats
- Any subdivided property
- Any tenanted property with an existing credit meter.
Video: Installing a Three Phase Prepaid Electricity Meter
More Info on Installing a Three Phase Prepaid Electricity Meter here: https://straton.co.za/pre-paid/product/prepaid-meter-three-phase-with-separate-ciu/
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