Electricity Sub-meters for Businesses and Landlords

Electrical sub-meters are devices associated with a main electrical meter. They record the precise amount of electricity consumed by specific areas in the building. Electrical sub-meters are usually installed as part of an energy optimisation strategy. Having a sub-meter encourages efficient management of devices and building better consumption habits.

What does a Sub-meter do?

A sub-meter can assist you with billing purposes by measuring the usage, impact, and efficiency of equipment processes and individual tenants. Sub-meters allow landlords and property managers to charge individual tenants directly based on their electricity consumption. Tenants then pay only for their usage, meaning landlords can avoid overcharging or undercharging.

Types of Sub-meters

Single-phase or three-phase sub-meter:

Electricity sub-meters can be single-phase or three-phase. The initial configuration of your electrical installation dictates this.

Communicating sub-meters:

Smart submeters use different communication technologies (wired or wireless) to transmit data in real-time automatically. Some smart sub-meters can identify consumption trends, anomalies, and peaks in demand.

Wired communication (Modbus):

Wired communication protocols such as Modbus RTU are used for gathering electricity consumption data. Modbus RTU is the most popular used protocol for wired solutions.

The Internet of Things (IoT):

Other electricity sub-meters are equipped with IoT (internet of things) functionalities. They can transmit data directly to application servers and communicate with other connected equipment. The dialogue is made possible by a wireless communication protocol, one of the most common of which is the LoRaWAN protocol. LoRaWAN can operate over long distances and consumes less energy. LoRaWAN is particularly useful when installing new equipment in existing buildings.

Why Should You Install an Electricity Sub-meter?

A sub-meter allows a business to monitor energy consumption on individual sites. This allows the landlord or property manager to be aware of any faulty or inefficient equipment. Business owners and property managers can reduce financial or environmental risks by spotting these issues.

Sub-metering also allows businesses to compare their energy consumption with competitors and their sites. Staying ahead of the competition can help businesses become sustainable quickly while cutting costs and providing opportunities to broaden their client base.

‘Greener’ businesses hold a significant advantage over the competition. Customers prefer to work with more sustainable companies to reduce their energy consumption. By reporting energy data through sub-metering, energy and sustainability managers can see how their sustainability targets are measured against competition.

As the UK aims to meet net-zero targets, staying sustainable is essential to all businesses. Sub-metering allows you to identify any areas of inefficiency to target this consumption. You are also lessening your impact on the environment. Additionally, any money saved from cutting out these overheads can then be invested into the company elsewhere.

Installing an electricity sub-meter can help your business save money, increase efficiency, and promote sustainability in your commercial property.

How long will it take to change my electricity meter?

The completion time for moving/changing your electricity meter depends on the complexity of your project. Our standard timescale for completion is roughly 6-12 weeks. Once you are assigned a dedicated account manager, they will work with you and all involved parties to arrange a suitable time to begin your meter relocation or installation.

How much will a new electricity meter cost?

Deciding the cost of acquiring a new electricity meter depends on several factors, including the scale and layout of your premises. We always prioritise delivering top-tier meters quickly and within your budget. If you are interested in installing a new electricity meter, please contact us today at 0161 521 3400, and we are more than happy to arrange a tailored quote.

How can Purely Energy help?

If you have any queries about sub-meters or would like help lowering your energy costs, contact us at 0161 521 3400 or email us at Info@purelyenergy.co.uk. Alternatively, get a quick quote.

This Article was written by Megan Glover of Purely Energy. If there are any suggestions or questions - Please get in touch with us.