About Metro Prepaid

What are electric sub meters?

Sub metering works where someone wants to share an existing (metered) MAIN supply of electricity or water with others. Some landlords are cutting their install costs by as much as 50% with electric sub meters. Sub meters are inexpensive and can be installed using much of the existing infrastructure and without running new supply cables to a property. If your property has been correctly wired with each section on its own circuit, then installing a sub meter is a relatively straightforward exercise.

What are the advantages of electric sub meters?

The advantages of electric sub meters include: easy control of bills, reduced administration and risk, cheaper meters and faster installation, an option to set your tariff so that tenants pay the Metro Prepaid 10% (Metro Code value) service fee, improved cash flow, water used through the sub meter is paid back to owner and there are consumption reports available.

To read more on the benefits of electric sub meters from Metro Prepaid, click here.

How does the Metro Prepaid sub meter work?

The electric sub meter is installed with it’s own consumer board, where needed, and to top-up their electricity, the tenant will have to go to any PayPoint store  (e.g. Co-op) with a meter card or a 19 digit PayPoint barcode to get their recharge pin. Tenants can also top-up their electricity through online payments, transfers through Barclays or get Power Codes from here.

The cost of landlord electricity flowing through the prepaid sub meters is recovered through power codes sold, and is repaid to the landlord by Metro Prepaid (monthly via bank payment). Metro prepaid collects the payments from the tenants for their usage and pays this money to the landlord so that they pay their account with the energy supplier.

You can ask a trusted local electrician to install the sub meter for you.

There are 6 types of electric sub meters available:

• Metro Prepayment Meter Single Phase MET001
• Metro Prepaymnet Meter MET004 with MBUS wired keypad for extra bypass protection
• Metro Prepayment Meter  Three Phase MET002
• Metro Prepayment Meter Three Phase MET008 with MBUS wired keypad for extra bypass protection
• Itron EM515 TYPE 700 JV1
• Itron Gas Prepayment

These are available from a variety of wholesalers and retailers. With a help desk that operates 24 hours, you can be assured that you get all the technical information and assistance you need to operate our electric sub meters.

Does the Metro Prepaid sub meter replace the main landlord meter?

Metro Prepaid sub meter does not replace the main landlord meter, they must be connected downstream of the main landlord meter. The existing landlord meter will remain in the property and within the utility area. These are what are considered sub meters, used for sub or secondary metering only and may not be used as a main or primary meter. 

Using our electric sub meters is beneficial as they reduce the administration of bills as you get more control and improved cash flow with the faster installation process. This also improves your property valuation and the tenants will appreciate the easy top-ups, control of their electricity usage with better technology.

When do I receive my payments?

Payments are made to the landlord, during the 1st week of every month, as agreed in the Terms of Service.  The Metro Prepaid system also automatically sends out a building statement to all clients whose email addresses were captured on the system.

You can also contact our Help Desk 24 hours a day to send you more detailed or other reports.

Where in the UK are the Metro Prepaid sub meters available?

Metro Prepaid sub meters are available from electrical wholesalers across the UK. Call our help desk on 020 3020 1144. 

Where are the Metro Prepaid sub meters manufactured?

Metro Prepaid purchases its prepaid sub meters from leading factories including Itron, one of the global giants in prepaid meters. The electric sub meters are designed to be resistant to tampering and in cases where tenants devise ways to by-pass this then landlords are encouraged to monitor usage against amounts collected or conduct site inspections where required.

Do Metro Prepaid sub meters have a warranty?

Yes, a one-year warranty on the electric sub meter. The warranty commences on the date of first registration with our Help Desk. Removing factory seals to open the meter and access its inner workings will invalidate the warranty. The seals on the clear plastic terminal cover may be removed and replaced by an electrician authorised by the property owner when fitting or checking a sub meter.

Are Metro Prepaid sub meters suitable for rooms in HMOs?

Metro Prepaid sub meters work well for rooms in HMOs. 

Are Metro Prepaid meters suitable for garden rooms?

Metro Prepaid sub meters work well for garden flats.  Other typical uses are for single owner properties:

• main house with several dwellings in the backyard
• sheds
• house divided into rooms
• commercial/retail building with several shops or units
• business park with multiple units
• blocks of flats
• residential complexes with multiple units
• student accommodation
• workers accommodation (e.g. farms)
• caravan parks
• boat moorings
• holiday lets
• events where electricity usage needs to be metered e.g. food trucks, fair stalls, stadiums, exhibitors etc.
• or any other instance where electricity/water usage payment need to be collected or recovered

Are Metro Prepaid meters suitable for flats?

Yes, but only where a landlord rents to a tenant.

Where can I view Metro Prepaid Terms of Service?

Metro Prepaid’s Terms of Service are available on the installation form, prepacked with the meter, or call our help desk and ask us to send you a copy.

Options to collect Tenant Electricity Usage

Landlords who have commercial properties, blocks of flats or simply rent out a backyard room to meet the growing demand for affordable urban accommodation, need to collect payment for utilities like electricity and electricity from their tenants.

There are a number of options available, for example:

• Charging a fixed recovery which is not linked to usage 
• Requesting that your energy provider install an additional separately metered connection 
• Installing a post-paid readable sub meter requiring monthly readings, invoicing administration and collection of payments 
• Installing a prepaid sub meter from a service provider like Metro Prepaid

Each of these have pros, cons and legal implications, but sub metering whether prepaid or postpaid is generally considered the fairest approach.

Sub metering has been prevalent in the UK for decades and is lawful provided that tenants are charged at the actual rate paid by the landlord (to his energy provider) and that the relevant regulations are observed.

Regulations include:

The Electricity Act of 1989 and amendments and other legislation is enforced by the regulator (EEMA) via OFGEM. No one should charge more for electricity than regulations allow.

Metro Prepaid recommends that Landlords of residential properties charge their tenants only the tariff charged to them by the Energy Provider and allow for the cost of any sub metering service fees when setting rental amounts.

Landlords of commercial properties that fall outside the scope of the Rental Housing Act have more flexibility under the regulations and may choose to make it a condition of lease that tenants pay sub metering service fees directly to the service provider.

Landlords who are unsure of their position under the regulations should request independent legal advice.

Download our Latest Brochure.

Click here for reviews from landlords or click here to buy an electric sub meter for landlords.

Who are Metro Prepaid? 

Metro Prepaid was formed in 2015, to help landlords collect utility payments from tenants using electric sub meters. 

Metro Prepaid is customer-centric – we are totally passionate about serving our customers, whether they be landlords, sub meter sellers, installers or tenants. 

We aim to offer our customers electric sub meter products which are:

• simple – off-the-shelf, simple to install, quick to register
• efficient – get the job done with the least fuss
• transparent – our fee structures are fully disclosed and easy to understand
• best value – commitment to provide the lowest sub meter prices and the best value service fees 

Supported by a friendly, approachable and committed team of customer centric individuals

Call us on 020 3020 1144 to find out how we can help you manage usage and collect electricity payments from your tenants. 

Where are Metro Prepaid's offices?

Metro Prepaid’s office is located in Tims Boat Yard on the river Thames, in Middlesex, London.

Our call centre operates 24x7x365 servicing metering customers in Africa, Asia Pac, Europe, the Americas and the UK.