Does anyone have experience with sub-meters as a means of dividing up electric usage between residential tenants, as opposed to having a separate utility company meter/service for each tenants in a two-family home?
I’m working on rehabbing 800 sq ft at the back of my house to rent and got a shock yesterday when the electrician told me it would cost around $1,600 to get a second meter and new service (mind you the power line is about 10 ft from the back of the house). The electrician recommended forgetting the second meter and just wiring the rental unit into the main panel box for the house (there’s plenty of spare capacity for that). That leaves me with two options, just including electric in the rent and hoping the tenant doesn’t decide to fill the place with grow-lights, or installing some sort of submeter that the tenant and I would read monthly to figure out their usage.
Any thoughts?
Replies
I think 200amp watthour meters are available for under $200. They have little current transformers that fit around the feeder wires and a small readout.
I have a 100amp watthour meter in my shop. It works well.
I don't know where you are, but the price sounds fair. You could have the sub-meter installed for much less I would imagine.
There are no electrons! It is all made up. Don't believe it.
Electricity is made by GREENIES.
I've done exactly what you are thinking and it is cheap and easy. Between the main panel and the sub panel for the suite you simply install an information meter. The 200 amp meter base is than 50 bucks and a refurbished meter is about the same. Do a search on Google to learn how to read the meter and charge the tenants a monthly amount based on kilowatt hours consumed.
Scott.