Installing an electrical sub meter.

[Audicab]

Hi, we are just taking on a new office that is owned by the council. It is a newly refurbished building and we will take one suite. We have been told we are responsible for installing an electrical sub meter.

Has anybody else done this, what are the likely costs going to be and does it have to be installed by the company we use as the electrical supplier.

Thanks for any info.

[surveyor]

I don't think they cost a great deal...

http://www.smartpowershop.co.uk/electricity-meters...

Any competent electrician should be able to install.

Personally I'd be telling the Landlords to get it sorted, if you are still in negotiations. I am wary of going anywhere near LL systems after an electrician damaged a fire alarm panel in a large multi-tenanted office building.

[Mr Overheads]

If you don't install a sub-meter what or how are they going to charge you for energy? is there provision for that in the contract?

[AMST09]

Also they can only charge you what they pay for the electric, they can't increase it

Normally down to the landlord to pay for a sub meter, but details of your lease is what it comes down to

[Elesmart]

I've been working in commercial metering for 10 years (just left) and have regularly had to give advice on sub metering. Any qualified electrician can install a sub meter to your suite. Prices vary, depending on electrician's rates and area's but usually you're looking in the region of £200 (supplied and fitted). This does depend on whether we're talking single phase or 3 phase metering.

A sub meter will monitor the usage of electricity within your suite. It will not generate it's own bill from the supplier (nor will they register it as a billable meter). The normal, billable meter will be onsite which will be billed accordingly for the full usage to the account holder (which may not necessarily be the landlord). Your sub meter reads can then be used to evidence your consumption within your suite and how much of the bill you need to contribute towards.

It's a good idea to get something in writing from your landlord regarding the utilities to backup anything which you need to pay towards usage. I've experienced plenty of billing disputes between parties with regards to sub meters. And, as you won't have your own supply or account with a supplier you won't have the access to the rates of electricity associated, unless it is provided to you by your landlord / account holder.

Hope this helps you.

Elesmart