Three-phase vs single-phase electricity — what PG and office owners need to know
Single-phase serves small room loads (ACs, geysers). Three-phase serves lifts, water pumps, common VRF and commercial. Commercial tariffs are usually billed in kVAh (which includes power factor), so a three-phase meter must read kVAh, not just kWh.
When you need a three-phase meter
- —Connected load > 7 kW (most utilities mandate 3-phase above this).
- —Motor loads — water pumps, lifts, HVAC compressors.
- —Commercial tariff — usually priced in kVAh, requiring a kVAh-capable meter.
- —DG sets above 15 kVA.
kVAh billing and power factor
Many Indian utilities bill commercial consumers in kVAh (apparent energy) rather than kWh (real energy). This penalises poor power factor. A three-phase smart meter like Enlog EnPro measures kWh, kVAh, kVARh and PF, so you can see the penalty and fix it with capacitor banks or APFC.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Encharge deployments typically use Enmate (single-phase) per room and EnPro (three-phase) for common-area, lifts, water motors and DG.
0.95 or higher on the main incomer. Below 0.90, utilities usually apply a penalty. A smart three-phase meter flags low PF in real time.