WiFi Smart Meter Retrofit for a Multi-Tenant Commercial Building

A multi-tenant commercial building needed to replace its manual electricity reading process with a more efficient sub-metering system. The property included offices, retail units, shared facilities, HVAC equipment, and public areas. However, the existing meters could only provide local readings.

As a result, the property team spent too much time collecting data from distribution rooms. It was also difficult to compare tenant consumption, identify unusual loads, and prepare monthly electricity reports.

The project introduced DIN rail WiFi smart meters, postpaid electricity metering, and a central reading platform. Saving Meter supported the project with meter selection, communication planning, technical configuration, and system integration.

Project Background

The building had several floors and many independent electricity users. Each tenant had a separate electrical circuit, while elevators, lighting, air conditioning, and other shared equipment were managed by the property company.

The original meters were installed inside different distribution cabinets. Staff had to visit each cabinet, record the readings, and enter the data into a billing sheet.

This process created several problems:

• Meter readings took too long to collect
• Manual entry increased the risk of errors
• Monthly data was difficult to compare
• Abnormal consumption was found too late
• Tenant billing lacked a clear data history
• Common-area electricity could not be analyzed in detail

Therefore, the property company needed a compact and connected commercial sub-meter solution.

Why the Project Used Postpaid Electricity Meters

The building already had stable leasing contracts and a regular monthly billing process. Therefore, the project selected a postpaid electricity meter structure instead of a prepaid system.

A postpaid system allowed tenants to use electricity without balance-based disconnection. At the end of each billing period, the property team could calculate charges from the recorded meter data.

This approach was also suitable for tenants with equipment that needed continuous power. In addition, the property company could keep its existing billing workflow while replacing manual readings with digital data collection.

Selecting DIN Rail WiFi Smart Meters

Space inside the existing distribution cabinets was limited. Therefore, compact DIN rail WiFi energy meters were selected for the retrofit.

DIN rail installation allowed the meters to fit into standard electrical panels without major cabinet changes. The project used different configurations for single-phase tenant circuits and three-phase common loads.

Before confirming the meter models, the technical team checked:

• Rated voltage and current
• Single-phase or three-phase wiring
• Direct or CT-connected measurement
• Meter accuracy
• Cabinet space
• WiFi signal availability
• Data upload frequency
• Software compatibility
• Applicable electrical standards

Saving Meter offers DIN rail, single-phase, three-phase, WiFi, and 4G electric meter options for different power monitoring requirements. Its single-phase DDSU1218 meter is designed for AC active energy measurement and can also support communication and control functions, depending on the configuration.

Planning the WiFi Meter Network

A WiFi smart meter uses the building’s wireless network to transfer electricity data. This can reduce communication wiring, especially when existing cabinets are spread across several floors.

However, the project team first checked network coverage near every meter location. Distribution cabinets, concrete walls, metal doors, and electrical equipment can weaken wireless signals.

Therefore, the network plan included:

• WiFi coverage tests near each cabinet
• Separate device identification for every meter
• Stable network access points
• Protected passwords and user permissions
• Defined data upload intervals
• Backup procedures for temporary network loss
• Clear links between meters and tenant accounts

This preparation helped prevent meters from being installed in areas with weak or unstable communication.

Connecting the Electricity Meter Reading App

The electricity meter reading app gave authorized property staff access to meter information without visiting every distribution cabinet.

Each meter was assigned to a building, floor, room, tenant, or common electrical load. This clear account structure made it easier to find the correct data.

The platform supported key operating needs such as:

• Remote meter reading
• Daily and monthly consumption records
• Tenant account management
• Consumption trend comparison
• Abnormal use checks
• Billing-period data export
• Meter connection status
• User access management

As a result, the property team could review current and historical readings from one system.

Installing the Commercial Sub Meters

Installation was carried out in planned stages. First, the technical team checked the wiring drawings and labeled every monitored circuit. The meters were then installed inside the selected distribution cabinets.

Each unit was matched with its tenant or load before power was restored. This step was important because an incorrect meter-to-account link could create billing disputes later.

After installation, technicians checked the following items:

• Phase and neutral wiring
• Current transformer direction where required
• Voltage and current readings
• Meter address and identification
• WiFi connection
• Data upload
• Time and billing-period settings
• Software account mapping

The project team also kept the original meter readings as a reference during the system changeover.

Testing Data Accuracy

Before the new system was used for tenant billing, readings were compared with reference values and existing electricity records.

The team reviewed meter performance under normal building loads. It also checked whether data shown in the platform matched the local meter display.

Where three-phase loads were monitored, the technicians confirmed phase order, current direction, and wiring. In addition, several days of parallel readings were collected before the old manual process was stopped.

This validation stage helped identify configuration errors before they could affect monthly reports.

Improving Tenant Electricity Billing

After commissioning, the property company could collect meter readings remotely. Staff no longer needed to open every distribution cabinet during each billing cycle.

The new system also provided a clearer consumption record for each tenant. When a billing question occurred, the property team could review historical readings instead of relying only on a handwritten record.

Furthermore, electricity used by shared equipment could be separated from tenant consumption. This gave the property manager a better view of common-area operating costs.

Supporting Building Energy Monitoring

The project was not limited to billing. Meter data also helped the building team review energy use across different floors, tenants, and equipment groups.

For example, the team could compare weekday and weekend loads or identify a tenant circuit that remained unusually high outside business hours. Common equipment could also be checked for changes in power use.

These insights supported daily building management and provided a stronger basis for future energy-saving work.

Project Results

The WiFi smart meter retrofit created a more organized commercial power monitoring process. Key outcomes included:

• Remote collection of tenant meter readings
• Less manual recording and data entry
• Clearer postpaid billing records
• Better separation of tenant and common loads
• Faster access to historical consumption data
• Easier detection of unusual electricity use
• A scalable structure for future meter additions

Most importantly, the project linked compact metering hardware with a practical property management workflow.

Metering Support from Saving Meter

Saving Meter provides intelligent electric meters, DIN rail meters, three-phase meters, data acquisition terminals, cloud software, system integration, and operation support. It includes WiFi and 4G DIN rail meters for commercial, industrial, and energy management applications.

For a commercial sub-metering project, buyers can provide distribution drawings, meter quantities, electrical parameters, communication needs, software requirements, and billing methods. Saving Meter can then assist with model selection and system planning.