The Complete Guide to Multi-Tenancy Metering

What multi-tenancy metering is

Multi-tenancy metering measures the electricity used by several separate occupancies from one connection point. Units, townhouses, dual occupancies, retail strips and commercial buildings each need every tenancy metered individually so consumption is billed to the right account. That means grouping multiple meters, their service protection and their connections in a coordinated, clearly labelled installation rather than a collection of single meter boxes.

EVO Electric fabricates and supplies multi-meter panels, enclosures and switchboards to the trade from our Sydney factory. We do not install — this guide covers how to specify a multi-tenancy metering installation that is compliant, readable and future-proof.

Where multi-tenancy metering is used

The requirement appears wherever one building or site serves multiple billable occupancies.

• —Residential units and apartment blocks.
• —Townhouse and villa developments.
• —Dual occupancies and granny-flat arrangements.
• —Retail strips and mixed-use buildings.
• —Commercial floors with multiple tenancies.

Metering panels and enclosures

Rather than a box per meter, multi-tenancy work uses a metering panel or a purpose-built enclosure that groups the meters, service protection and links for several tenancies. This keeps cabling tidy, makes reading and maintenance practical, and lets the whole assembly be fabricated and tested before it reaches site.

Direct-connect and CT metering in multi-tenancy

Small tenancies are metered direct-connect; large tenancies or a big house supply may need CT metering where the current is too high for a direct-connect meter. A single building can mix both — for example, direct-connect metering for the units and CT metering for a large common-property or commercial load.

• —Direct-connect for standard residential and small commercial tenancies.
• —CT metering where a tenancy's current exceeds direct-connect limits.
• —Common-property metering for shared lighting, lifts and services.

Labelling and identification

The defining risk in multi-meter work is a meter mapped to the wrong tenancy. Every meter, service fuse and submain must be clearly and durably labelled so each maps unambiguously to its unit or tenancy. Poor labelling causes billing disputes, defect notices and dangerous confusion during fault-finding.

• —Label every meter to its tenancy or unit number.
• —Label service protection and submains consistently.
• —Match all labels to a documented schedule.

Segregation and compliance

Multi-tenancy metering has to keep the network's sections sealable and, where relevant, keep tenancies electrically segregated. On larger installations the assembly is built to AS/NZS 61439 with segregation matching the tenancy and metering layout. The network's sealing provisions around each meter and service fuse must remain intact and accessible.

Because these assemblies are fabricated to a schedule, the segregation, labelling and sealing are verified at build time rather than improvised on site.

Future-proofing multi-tenancy metering

Developments add load over their life — EV charging in car parks, solar with embedded networks and additional tenancies all draw on the metering. Specifying spare capacity and space in the panel now is far cheaper than re-fabricating a metering board later.

• —Allow spare ways for future tenancies or common loads.
• —Consider EV charging demand in car parks.
• —Coordinate solar and embedded-network metering early.

How to specify a multi-tenancy installation

A multi-tenancy metering enquiry is best sent as a schedule. The clearer the tenancy picture, the more accurately the panel is fabricated.

• —Number of tenancies and the phase configuration of each.
• —Direct-connect or CT metering per tenancy.
• —Common-property metering requirements.
• —Labelling schedule mapping meters to tenancies.
• —Enclosure size, material, IP rating and mounting.
• —Spare capacity for future load.

Request a quote with your tenancy schedule and EVO will fabricate and test the multi-meter panel or switchboard in Sydney before dispatch — labelled, segregated and ready to connect.

Frequently Asked Questions