Prepaid electricity for short-term rentals: the legal alternative
Major French utilities like EDF and Engie do not offer prepaid electricity to private consumers. Powtiva is the recognized solution for transferring energy costs to your guests on Airbnb, vacation rentals, and furnished properties.
Why there are no prepaid meters from EDF for private consumers
In France, EDF, Engie, and other major utilities offer no prepaid electricity formulas for private consumers. This practice, common in the UK, Belgium, and Spain, was not implemented in France due to historical and regulatory reasons tied to universal service obligations.
The practical result: owners of short-term vacation rentals must absorb the entire electricity cost, often inflated by guests with no visibility into their consumption and no incentive to limit usage. On a 1-bedroom apartment rented through Airbnb, this typically amounts to 800 to 1,400 € in annual energy charges depending on the region and occupancy rate.
The legal and technical alternative exists: install an intelligent submeter downstream from the main EDF meter, couple it to a prepayment system, and link this system to direct billing of guests. This is exactly what Powtiva standardizes, in compliance with the NF C 15-100 standard and the November 15, 2019 decree on submeters.
How to install a prepaid electricity system in a rental property
3 steps to transfer 100% of energy costs to your guests
Submeter installation
An electrician installs a Powtiva submeter downstream from your EDF meter in your electrical panel. The installation takes 2 to 3 hours and does not disrupt EDF service.
Guest recharges their credit
On arrival, the guest scans a QR code to access their portal. They see their balance in real time and recharge by credit card (Stripe) as needed.
Automatic cutoff at zero balance
When credit reaches zero, comfort circuits (heating, air conditioning, hot water) are cut off automatically. Lighting and standard outlets remain active, in compliance with French law.
A 100% legal system in France
Powtiva complies with all French regulations governing submetering and tenant energy billing.
NF C 15-100 standard compliant
Our meters and relays comply with the French electrical installation standard and are CE certified for residential use.
Energy billing is authorized
Individual energy billing to guests in short-term furnished rentals is legal, based on accurate and transparent submetering.
Essential services preserved
Lighting and standard outlets always remain powered, in compliance with minimum supply obligations under French law.
The concrete benefits of prepaid electricity
What you gain by switching to a prepaid meter on your rental
€0 energy bills for you
Guests pay their actual consumption in real time. You recover 100% of energy costs on every stay.
No unpaid bills possible
Payment comes before consumption. Guests cannot leave behind an unpaid electricity bill.
Responsible consumption
Seeing their credit decrease naturally encourages guests to moderate heating, air conditioning, and hot water use.
Quick installation
2 hours of electrician work, with no prolonged EDF meter outage and no administrative steps required.
Real example: a 1-bedroom in Marseille rented on Airbnb
Before vs after Powtiva installation over one year of operation
Without a prepaid meter
- • Guests consume with no limits whatsoever
- • Annual EDF bill entirely at your expense
- • No visibility into who consumed what
-1,240 €
in annual energy charges you absorbed
With Powtiva prepaid
- • Each guest pays their actual consumption
- • Automatic billing through Stripe portal
- • -25% average consumption reduction observed
+1,240 €
recovered in your annual profitability
Prepaid electricity for rentals: frequently asked questions
Everything property owners ask us before switching
Does EDF offer prepaid meters in France?
Is it legal to bill electricity to an Airbnb guest?
What is the installation process like?
What is the cost for the property owner?
What happens when a guest's credit reaches zero?
Can a guest refuse to use the prepaid system?
Can I set the kWh rate charged to guests myself?
What happens to my main EDF meter? Do I need to change my subscription?
Ready to switch to prepaid electricity?
Join property owners who bill 100% of energy to their guests.