Which prepaid meter kit to choose for your Airbnb in 2026?
We studied 5 prepaid submetering solutions available in France: industrial, turnkey SaaS, DIY open source. Three make the finals, only one ticks every box for a furnished tourism host. Here's the honest, no-BS comparison.
Prepaid electricity in rentals: a young, still fragmented market
In France, electricity rebilling between host and guest has been framed since 1989 (French law article 23-1 of loi 89-462), but the prepaid submetering market for furnished tourism rentals only emerged from 2022. Result: very few players, heterogeneous supply, and blurry technical vocabulary that makes the choice hard for a non-engineer host. You find at the same time industrial solutions designed for utilities, turnkey SaaS kits designed for short-term rentals, and a long tail of more or less reliable DIY setups.
Technically, everything hinges on a connected submeter (DIN module or clamp meter) paired with a software layer that calculates consumption, applies a rate, and cuts the breaker when credit reaches zero. DIY-inclined hosts sometimes assemble a generic meter with Home Assistant themselves, which works — we don't dispute it — but assumes you can configure Docker, MQTT, a reverse proxy, and an iCal gateway. For most owners, it's simply not viable.
Three truly credible turnkey solutions remain in 2026: a French player designed exclusively for short-term rentals, a more generalist European alternative, and an industrial range inherited from utility prepaid meters (Landis+Gyr Cash Power). They differ on three axes that change everything: Airbnb iCal integration, multilingual guest portal, and French-language support. This comparison details each dimension with numbers, without hiding cases where another option is more relevant than Powtiva.
How to compare a submeter kit for Airbnb
Three steps to decide calmly before investing in a submeter kit.
Define your criteria
Number of properties (1, 3, 10?), technical level (beginner or Linux geek?), first-year overall budget (kit + subscription + electrician install). These three variables already eliminate half the options before comparing spec sheets.
Compare on 6 dimensions
Kit cost + subscription, install time, Airbnb booking integration, multilingual guest portal, support language, French compliance (article 23-1, GDPR). Each solution excels on some dimensions and lags on others — it's all trade-offs.
Choose the aligned solution
A solo host with 2 properties and zero Docker skills doesn't have the same needs as an operator of 15 units with an in-house engineer. Three profiles, three different recommendations — we detail them below in the numbers comparison.
The three major families of prepaid kits in 2026
A reading by category before entering brand-by-brand detail.
Industrial utility kits
Landis+Gyr Cash Power type: operator-certified hardware, extreme robustness, but installation cost over 500 EUR per unit, no Airbnb integration, minimal portal. Designed for collective sets of 10+ units managed by a professional.
Turnkey SaaS kits
Powtiva and European alternatives: lightweight hardware 112-167 EUR, 19-39 EUR monthly subscription, install in 2-3 h by an electrician, guest portal, Airbnb iCal integration. Target the private host managing 1 to 20 properties.
DIY open source kits
Generic hardware (Sonoff, bare Shelly, PZEM) paired with Home Assistant: 30-50 EUR per property, free on software, but no integrated billing, no support, high installation and maintenance time. Reserved for technical profiles.
Objective comparison across 4 key dimensions
We compare Powtiva, industrial Landis+Gyr, a generalist European SaaS, and DIY Home Assistant.
Installation ease
Powtiva: 2-3 h with a local electrician, kit ready to wire. Landis+Gyr: half-day minimum, training required. European SaaS: equivalent to Powtiva. DIY: count 8 to 20 h of setup between wiring, firmware flashing, MQTT config, and homemade guest portal.
Airbnb booking integration
Powtiva syncs the Airbnb iCal to automatically create stays and allocate an included energy quota. Landis+Gyr: no integration. European SaaS: Booking integration but no native Airbnb. DIY: to code yourself in Python or n8n.
French-language support
Powtiva: FR/EN team, response within 24 h, documentation fully translated. Landis+Gyr: English B2B support. European SaaS: English/German chat, partial French. DIY: community forums only, no guaranteed response.
First-year total cost
For a studio: Powtiva ~= 340 EUR (kit 112 EUR + 19 EUR/month subscription). Landis+Gyr ~= 900 EUR install included. European SaaS ~= 380 EUR. DIY ~= 80 EUR hardware but 15 to 30 h of your time — at loaded minimum wage, the saving melts fast.
Real case: a host manages 3 Airbnb properties in the south of France over 12 months
Numbers comparison across the 4 studied solutions, realistic annual projection.
Without prepaid kit, flat rebilling
- • Electricity flat fee included in the nightly rate, no visibility on guests' actual consumption.
- • Frequent extra costs in summer with AC left at 18 C with windows open.
- • No lever to hold the guest accountable, margin nibbled on every long stay.
+ 1,400 EUR
Annual non-rebilled energy overcost
With Powtiva on the 3 properties
- • Meter kit 3 x 112 EUR = 336 EUR + subscription 3 x 19 EUR = 57 EUR/month, i.e., 684 EUR/year.
- • Guest portal, quota included per night, Stripe top-up on overage, automatic cutoff.
- • Average consumption drops 25 to 30 % thanks to real-time feedback.
~= 1,020 EUR
First-year total cost, 3 properties
Your questions on prepaid kit choice
Eight answers from recurring requests by French Airbnb hosts.
How much does a turnkey prepaid meter kit actually cost in 2026?
Can I install a DIY Sonoff or Shelly + Home Assistant system myself?
What kit do you recommend for a beginner host with no smart-electricity knowledge?
Are these kits compatible with an EDF or standard grid operator subscription?
Is a prepaid kit compliant with French law in furnished tourism rentals?
Is Landis+Gyr Cash Power relevant for a private host with 2 or 3 Airbnbs?
Why not take a cheaper German or British foreign solution?
How quickly does a turnkey kit pay for itself on a classic Airbnb?
Discover also
Electric submeter for Airbnb: comparison guide
Choose between mechanical, LCD, or connected prepaid: complete comparison for Airbnb hosts, gîtes, short-term rentals. Installation, legality, ROI.
Divisional meter for furnished rentals
Complete technical guide on installation, NF C 15-100 standard, costs and ROI of divisional meters for Airbnb and vacation rentals. Accurate measurement, transparent billing.
Prepaid electricity for rentals
The legal alternative to prepaid EDF to bill 100% of energy to your furnished rental guests.
Ready to compare Powtiva to your current situation?
Try the dashboard for 30 days and judge for yourself. Kit delivered within 5 days, installation in 2-3 h.