Installing a prepaid submeter system for your tenants will not directly reduce your main electricity bill as a landlord. 

Here's how it works and how it can affect your billing:

Main Points to Consider

• Main Utility Bill: As the landlord, you will still receive a main electricity bill from your utility provider for the entire property. This bill covers the total electricity consumption of the property, including common areas and individual rental units.

• Tenant Usage: With prepaid submeters, the electricity usage of each tenant is measured separately. Tenants pay in advance for their estimated consumption, which can help you collect payments more reliably.

• Reimbursement: The prepaid amounts collected from tenants should correspond to their actual usage, which means you, as the landlord, can use these payments to cover the main utility bill. If tenants are effectively managing their usage and paying in advance, you should have a more consistent cash flow to pay the main electricity bill.

• Cost Recovery: If tenants consume more electricity than anticipated and their prepaid credits run out, they will need to purchase additional credits. This ensures that the cost of their electricity consumption is covered, and you are not left with unpaid utility expenses.

Benefits of Prepaid Submeters

• Improved Cash Flow: Ensures you receive payments upfront, reducing the risk of unpaid bills.
• Fair Billing: Tenants are charged for their actual usage, encouraging responsible consumption.
• Ease of Management: Simplifies the process of collecting utility payments from multiple tenants.

Potential Indirect Savings

While your main electricity bill itself won't be reduced by the installation of prepaid submeters, you may experience some indirect financial benefits:

• Reduced Default Risk: Prepayment reduces the likelihood of tenants falling behind on their utility payments.

• Encouraged Conservation: Tenants who are directly responsible for their utility costs are more likely to conserve energy, potentially reducing overall consumption on the property.

• Administrative Efficiency: Streamlined billing and payment processes can save you time and resources in managing utility payments.

In summary, while your main electricity bill will not be directly reduced, prepaid submeters can help ensure that tenants' utility costs are covered, improve cash flow, and encourage more responsible energy usage among tenants.

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• Installation: Submeters are installed in each rental unit to measure the specific utility usage of that unit.

• Prepayment: Tenants purchase a certain amount of utility credits in advance.

• Usage Monitoring: The submeter deducts the utility usage from the prepaid credits.

• Recharging: When the credits run low, tenants must purchase more to maintain their utility service.

• Tenants can recharge their prepaid submeters through various methods, including online payment portals, mobile apps, or purchasing recharge vouchers from designated outlets.

• Budget Control: Tenants can manage their utility expenses more effectively.

• Transparency: Tenants have real-time access to their usage and remaining credits.

Typically, the landlord or property management company is responsible for installing the submeters. They may hire a professional service to ensure proper installation and setup.

Yes, like any electronic device, submeters may require periodic maintenance to ensure accurate readings and proper functionality. This is usually handled by the landlord or property management.

The cost varies depending on the type of utility, the number of units, and the specific submetering system chosen. Landlords should obtain quotes from several providers to determine the best option.

When it comes to prepaid meter installation costs, there are only two initial upfront costs and that is the purchasing of the meters from a preferred Edm Solutions Prepaid wholesaler or electrical retailer and the meter installation costs by a certified electrician or plumber. It is important to note that we do not charge connection fees.

Please note that you cannot replace an Eskom/ Municipal meter with a Edm solutions Prepaid sub-meter. For you to be able to buy tokens through us you will need to install a sub-meter downstream from the main meter.

Our meters are available for purchase at reputable electrical wholesalers and retailers, and should be installed by a qualified contractor to connect it to the main Eskom/ Municipal meter. If you decide to install one of our meters, you can contact us to register/activate it on our meter management system.

If you have any questions regarding this issue or where to buy our meters kindly let us know via email or give our friendly call centre a call on  010 023 4332

Once the meter is installed, the next step is to register it on the Edm Solutions Prepaid System. Only once it is registered and we have your banking details will the meter be ready to accept tokens and provide your tenants with access to electricity and/or water.




You will need to complete an activation form (contact our Call Centre for the form) and send it to us. Once it’s completed please email to registration@edmsolutions.co.za, Alternatively, you can call us on 010 023 5448 and our agents will do the registration on the phone with you and then email you a confirmation. You can also request a registration form via WhatsApp: 081 713 6022 that will be emailed to you.

• Consider the availability of technical support and maintenance services. EDM Solutions offers comprehensive support, including regular maintenance and troubleshooting assistance, ensuring the longevity and accuracy of the submeters.

Ensure the submetering system complies with local regulations and standards. EDM Solutions’ systems are designed to meet regulatory requirements, providing peace of mind that your submetering practices are legal and fair.

Look for testimonials and case studies from other landlords who have used EDM Solutions' products. Positive reviews and successful case studies can give you confidence in the system's reliability and effectiveness.

Choose a system that can be easily scaled if your property portfolio expands. EDM Solutions offers customizable and scalable solutions that can be adapted to meet the changing needs of your properties.

Tokens purchased from Easypay or Cigicell stores will provide you with the 20 digit token number which can be keyed directly into your meter. UniPin vouchers (Cigicell) will require that you SMS your voucher number to the number provided, whereafter your token will be sent to you via SMS.

Tokens are unique to each meter; this means that no one can steal your token and use it on a different meter.

If you lose a token, you can whatsapp your meter number to 081 713 6022 for the most recent token to be sent back to your cell phone, or contact our call centre on 010 023 4332 or log into the online chat portal at any time to obtain the most recent token.