Smart meter vs sub-meter — are they the same?
A smart sub-meter (= both at once) is the right answer for any multi-tenant property. Encharge's Enmate and EnPro are IoT smart sub-meters that sit behind the utility meter and bill individual rooms prepaid.
The terms are often confused. A sub-meter is a position in the circuit — downstream of the utility meter. A smart meter is a class of device with IoT, storage and remote control. Many sub-meters are 'dumb' (mechanical or basic digital); many smart meters are utility-primary (not sub).
For PG, hostel and rentals, you want the combination: a smart meter in a sub-meter position.
Smart meter vs Sub-meter
| Dimension | Smart meter | Sub-meter |
|---|---|---|
| Position in circuit | Can be utility or sub | Always sub (downstream of utility) |
| IoT connectivity | Yes✓ | Usually no |
| Prepaid billing support | Yes✓ | Rare |
| Remote disconnect | Yes✓ | No |
| Per-room dashboard | Yes✓ | Manual spreadsheet |
| Cost per point | ₹3.5k–₹10k | ₹1k–₹3k✓ |
- —You want prepaid, live monitoring and remote control.
- —You manage multi-tenant property with disputes.
- —You need audit-grade data per room / zone.
- —You only need a rough monthly reading for reference.
- —Single-purpose internal accounting with no tenant interaction.
- —Low-cost retrofit where IoT isn't needed.
Frequently asked questions
Both. Encharge is a smart IoT meter installed in a sub-meter position — so you get IoT + prepaid + sub-metering in one device.
Usually easier to replace than retrofit. Encharge replaces an existing sub-meter with minimal rewiring.