Prepaid metering for PG/co-living — the practical setup guide
Encharge & PG billing · 9 min read · Updated 2026-04-21
TL;DR
A successful prepaid deployment needs: room-wise sub-meters, a separate common-area meter, a clear split rule, and simple UPI recharges with transparent receipts. Do this and collection hits 100% with fewer disputes.
What a correct prepaid PG setup looks like
- —Room-wise metering (single-phase) per room
- —Common-area metering (often three-phase) for lifts/pumps/corridors
- —Tariff mapping aligned to your utility bill
- —Tenant recharge via UPI + audit-proof receipts
- —Grace rules and automated disconnect/reconnect
Common mistakes to avoid
- —Not separating common area → endless arguments
- —Charging a markup above tariff → tenant conflict and compliance risk
- —No DG costing model → unfair backup billing
- —Manual exceptions without audit trail → mistrust
Frequently asked questions
Can I do prepaid without cutting power at zero balance?
Yes. Most systems support low-balance alerts and grace periods before disconnect.
How do tenants recharge?
UPI is the simplest. Tenants can also use cards/wallets depending on the setup. Receipts should be instant and itemised.
How do I handle shared rooms?
You can split room usage per headcount or per rent agreement. Systems like Encharge support per-room rules.