Sub Meter Electric

Piku

Hi Guys,

Could someone help me work out or help me find information on sub meters? We recently looked at a flat in which the electric would have a sub meter running at 2p/min - I'm wondering how this compares to say Scottish Powers Online tarriff.

I've had a look at the scottish power tarrif but they are down as 11p per KWH.

Does anyone have any advice? Thanks for the help!

Scottish_Power

Hi Piku,

A Sub-Metered site is generally a single main supply that has one main meter, this supply is then split after the main meter between the various flats within in the building. If you imagine the main supply being the trunk of the tree, with the sub metered flats each being an individual branch which feeds from the trunk. The landlord or property manager has then installed their own meters in each seperate flat (or each branch of the tree if you like ) in order to bill them individually for their usage.

The billing of electricity in this manner would be strictly between you and your landlord. ScottishPower would send the landord one bill for the main metered supply and then essentially they can charge what they deem appropriate (within certain parameters) for your usage based on the information taken from the sub-meters. I recommend having a look at the Ofgem website for information about sub-metered supplies.

ScottishPower (and all the main suppliers as far as I am aware) bill their customers for each kilowatt hour of electricity they use. One kilowatt hour equals one unit on the electricity meter. If you use 200 units, we charge you for those units at an agreed rate.

If your landlord is proposing to bill you based on 2p per minute, it is difficult to offer an accurate comparison as our prices are not based on how long you use electricity, but how much electricity you use. I am uncertain how billing you per minute would work in practice, is it 2p per minute regardless of how many appliances you use for example? It may be a good idea to speak to them about this.

If you would like some information on our rates feel free to send me a PM and I can point you in the right direction. Equally if I can answer any more questions regarding this enquiry please let me know.

Good luck with the house move

Craig @ ScottishPower

phoenix2000

does anyone know whether sub meters can be changed to main meters and therefore billed directly to the person using the electricity? thank you :rotfl:

Joyful

The only way would be to spend either hundreds or possibly thousands to put in a separate supply that would then have it's own meter. This is the reason most sub meters exist- the landlords don't want to spend their money.

Haarlem

Joyful wrote: »

The only way would be to spend either hundreds or possibly thousands to put in a separate supply that would then have it's own meter. This is the reason most sub meters exist- the landlords don't want to spend their money.

Not necessarily a separate supply back to say the street, as the existing one could be split at a suitable place by the Distributor. There will be a charge but it may not that much.

If the property is rented the Landlord will have to agree.

Get your Distributor to give you a quote

Owain_Moneysaver

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

The billing of electricity in this manner would be strictly between you and your landlord. ScottishPower would send the landord one bill for the main metered supply and then essentially they can charge what they deem appropriate (within certain parameters) for your usage based on the information taken from the sub-meters. I recommend having a look at the Ofgem website for information about sub-metered supplies.

Ofgem Directive abolished the maximum resale price back in 2002 and now requires resellers to operate on a no profit unit cost pass-through basis.

In accordance with Schedule 7 of the 1989 Electricity Act, only approved meters can be used for the measurement of an electricity supply. (Any new meter requiring approval must be submitted to the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), the sole organisation in the UK with the authority to approve meters).
According to Ofgem, the statutory position on billing meters is as follows:
“In the commercial environment, the landlord may take a supply as a customer of an electricity supplier. Where the landlord installs a sub-meter for re-supply to his tenants, he becomes the authorised electricity supplier under Schedule 7(1)(10) of the Electricity Act. He is authorised by exemption (Class B: Resale – schedule 4 of the exemptions order, SI 3270/2001) and his tenants become his customers.
Generally, no meter shall be used for ascertaining the quantity of electricity supplied by an authorised supplier to a customer unless the meter is -
a. of an approved pattern or construction and is installed in an approved manner according to the regulations; and
b. is certified by a meter examiner or other person authorised to certify meters”
The landlord can be exempt from b. the requirement for certification if the landlord has agreement in writing with his tenant before the meter is used (Schedule 7(2)(2). However, there is no exemption for a. as “It is an offence for an authorised supplier to supply electricity through a meter that is not of an approved pattern”.

So unless the meter is of an approved type and the landlord is charging a unit cost derived from his supplier - and makes the documentation available to prove it - the supply is illegal (and the charges unenforceable)

cybergibbons

Piku wrote: »

Hi Guys,
the electric would have a sub meter running at 2p/min

Well, just simple maths tells you that it is extortionate or not right.

2p/min is £1.20 an hour. £28.80 a day. £201.60 a week. Over £10k a year.

bryanb

You wouldn't need a meter if you charged by the minute, just a clock & calender

Joyful

Everyone is answering a question from a year ago. The latest op has only asked if the system can be changed.

lemontart

can anyone advise me on current laws etc regarding these. Also can work be carried out by suitably qualified electrician or can you arrange for a supplier to fit one?

spiro

To replace a sub-meter with a 'billing meter' you would need to get the distributor to install a new supply and then get a supplier to fit a meter. This is likely to be expensive or very expensive.