Shared electricity can result in a savings of 10-20%
It is very common for apartment blocks to introduce shared electricity where the association charges each apartment for its actual consumption. All that is needed is a common subscription for all the flats in the housing association or apartment block, known as 'shared electricity'. This can save each apartment 10-20 %. As a provider of infrastructure for the collection and measurement of metering data in these IMD projects, we at PiiGAB notice a large increase. This has increased significantly with the current recession and electricity market.
In Sweden today there are more than 5 million flats (tenant-owned and rented) and the biggest cost is heating. With the help of an IMD system, each apartment owner is charged for the actual energy cost. There are many reasons for installing such a system, but most often it is about financial savings, fair cost allocation and reduced environmental impact. It is not only electricity that is measured and charged on actual consumption, water consumption is also common.
Economy and environment with IMD
In addition to the fixed costs being minimal, it can also be seen that the negotiating position with the electricity companies is much more favourable when you have a large consumption on a large subscription instead of each apartment having to negotiate itself when the consumption is much smaller. It is also fairer when you pay for the actual consumption. Households can continuously read their consumption on the meter in their home. It has been noticed that residents are becoming more aware of their own consumption, which often leads to them being more economical. They can also clearly see their own environmental impact.
Administration and statistics with IMD
The billing data can be managed and transferred directly into the property owner's or housing association's billing system, thus reducing administration.
How does it work?
The integrators offer the apartment blocks an IMD system. Consumption is measured in each apartment's submeter to the property's main meter. If there is no water meter in each apartment, this is completed in the property. The consumption of all meters is sent to a Smart Metering Gateway such as PiiGAB 900 where all the data is collected and then sent to the IMD system, which is connected to the billing system so that each apartment owner receives their share on the bill.
At PiiGAB, we supply large parts of the infrastructure for IMD projects to several large and small integrator companies. Everything from sensors for measuring temperature, humidity but also electricity meter and water meter and Smart Metering Gateway PiiGAB 900S/T with associated software for all possible projects.
Executive summary
With an IMD system you get:
- Reduced subscription costs (network charges)
- Lower electricity consumption
- Pressure on electricity prices
- Fair and automatic debiting
- A reduced environmental impact
