Divisional meter for furnished rentals: installation and legality
A divisional meter (or submeter) is an electrical measurement device installed downstream from your main EDF meter. Powtiva explains everything: NF C 15-100 standard, costs, physical installation, and ROI for billing electricity to your Airbnb and vacation rental guests.
Divisional meter vs. main EDF meter: the differences
A divisional meter (or submeter) is an electrical measurement device that records the consumption of specific electrical circuits. Unlike your main EDF meter which measures the entire building's consumption, the divisional meter measures only what flows through a selected portion of your electrical panel.
It is NOT a replacement for your Linky EDF meter. It works DOWNSTREAM, meaning after the main breaker. You keep your main EDF meter unchanged and your EDF contract unchanged. The divisional meter is installed in your electrical panel on a DIN rail, powered by the circuits you want to bill to guests (typically: heating, air conditioning, hot water, outlet circuits).
Concrete example: in a 3-bedroom rented on Airbnb, you install a Powtiva divisional meter measuring everything except common area lighting (stairway, hallway). The main EDF meter continues measuring everything (including common lighting). You receive one EDF bill for the total, but you bill the guest only for what the divisional meter measured: their actual consumption of heating, AC, and outlets.
Where and how to install a divisional meter in the electrical panel
The practical reality of installation by an electrician
Location in the electrical panel
The divisional meter (Pro EM-50 or Pro 3EM Powtiva) installs physically in your electrical panel on a standard DIN rail (aluminum profile standard in all French panels). It connects downstream from the main breaker, meaning after the breaker that protects the entire electrical installation.
Wiring and connection
Concretely: the electrician accesses your panel, locates the main breaker (usually top left), and creates a branch after it. The circuits to be measured (heating, air conditioning, hot water, outlets) are then reconnected to the divisional meter inputs, and its output feeds the secondary protective breakers. Load-shedding relays (€18 Powtiva) are installed on the same DIN rail and controlled by the meter via wired or wireless signal.
Commissioning
Installation duration: 2 to 3 hours for an experienced electrician. Electrical outage: minimal (a few minutes only, since the main breaker stays powered). Risks: none if a qualified electrician respects NF C 15-100 standard. Compliance: Consuel certification optional but recommended after work (attestation of compliant installation).
NF C 15-100 standard and the November 15, 2019 decree
How French law governs divisional meter installation
NF C 15-100 standard (electrical installation)
French NF C 15-100 standard governs electrical installation in all buildings. It requires: (1) easy and safe isolation of the measured portion (dedicated breaker), (2) compliant grounding (equipotential bonding), (3) 30 mA minimum differential protection on the measured portion. Our Powtiva meters and relays are CE certified for residential use and comply with this standard. The electrician who installs must be qualified (training or Chamber of Commerce registered electrician).
November 15, 2019 decree (residential divisional meters)
This decree specifically governs divisional meters in residential buildings. It requires: (1) accurate and transparent billing based on actual measurement, (2) advance communication to the tenant of the kWh rate, (3) respect for vital services (lighting and standard outlets always powered even at zero credit), (4) absence of special energy deposit or guarantee. Powtiva fully respects these obligations.
Consuel certification (optional but recommended)
Consuel (National Committee for Electrical User Safety) issues a compliance attestation after electrical work. This attestation is not legally mandatory for residential dividing meters, but it is recommended: it proves to your insurers and authorities that installation complies with the standard. Cost: €50-€100. A Powtiva partner electrician can prepare and request it on your behalf.
Benefits of a divisional meter
What a furnished rental owner gains with submeter measurement
Accurate refactoring
Measure each stay's consumption to the kWh and refactor at your actual EDF contract rate.
Quick installation
2 to 3 hours of electrician work, with no administrative steps required from Enedis or EDF.
3-9 month payback
Powtiva kit €112 to €167 + subscription from €19/month, recovered through EDF bill savings.
Zero EDF impact
Your main EDF contract remains strictly unchanged, no power level modification required.
Real example: 3-bedroom in Bordeaux rented on Airbnb
Before vs. after Powtiva installation over 12 months
Without divisional meter
- • You pay 100% of EDF consumption (heating, AC, hot water, guest outlets)
- • Guests consume without limits, no visibility on cost
- • Annual EDF bill: ~€950 (80 kWh/day × 350 days/year × €0.34/kWh)
-950 €
in energy charges you absorbed
With Powtiva divisional meter
- • Each guest pays their actual consumption (prepaid recharge)
- • Consumption reduced 20-25% (awareness effect)
- • You bill: 60 kWh/day × 350 days × €0.32/kWh = €6,720 billed to guests
+482 €
in net annual margin (after year 1 amortization)
Divisional meter for furnished rentals: frequently asked questions
Property owners' and electricians' common doubts
Is a divisional meter the same as a Linky EDF meter?
Does installing a divisional meter disrupt my EDF supply?
Must I declare the installation to EDF or the city?
Can an unqualified electrician install the divisional meter?
What is the typical timeline from quote to commissioning?
If the guest leaves without recharging their credit, what happens?
Can I set the kWh rate I charge the guest myself?
Can a guest refuse to recharge and leave?
Discover also
Prepaid electricity for rentals
The legal alternative to prepaid EDF to bill 100% of energy to your furnished rental guests.
Avoid unpaid bills
Protect yourself against tenant electricity defaults.
Energy management
Dashboard, alerts and reports to manage your consumption.
Ready to install a prepaid submeter?
Join property owners who master their energy costs and bill 100% back to guests.