Granny Flat Metering in Sydney
Level 2 Accredited Electricians. Trading Since 1999.
Granny flat metering is Level 2 electrical work, and Dave Fenech Electrical Services has been a trusted Sydney electrical contractor since 1999. We’re an accredited Level 2 Service Provider, licensed and insured, and we work on both the Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy networks.
That means one team can connect power to your granny flat, install an electricity meter for the granny flat or a sub meter, and lodge the paperwork with the network and your retailer. Whether you’re renting out the flat, housing family or finishing a build, we set it up so each household pays for the power it uses.
Granny Flat Meter Installation Across Sydney
Separate Meters, Sub Meters and Full Power Connections
We cover every part of granny flat meter installation in Sydney, from the cable run out of your main switchboard to the granny flat electricity meter that records its usage. Our own Level 2 electricians do the work, and every circuit is tested before the power goes on.
Separate Electricity Meters
Granny Flat Sub Meters
Connecting Power to Granny Flats
Meter Panel and Switchboard Upgrades
Single to Three Phase Upgrades
Client Testimonials – Read What Others Have To Say About Dave Fenech Electrical Services
Contact Our Friendly & Experienced Team
Get a Free Quote for Your Granny Flat Metering
✓ Separate meters & sub meters ✓ Licensed and insured Level 2 electricians ✓ Servicing all areas across Sydney
Why You Need Separate Electricity Meters
Without separate metering, the house and the granny flat run through one meter and land on one bill. Someone then has to guess who used what. A separate power meter for the granny flat takes the guessing out of it, and it’s the only way to pass electricity costs on to a tenant properly.
Fair Bills for Both Homes
Each household pays for the power it actually uses, so the bill never turns into an argument.
Charge Tenants Correctly
Tenancy law only lets a landlord pass on electricity usage when the flat is separately metered.
See Your Own Usage
With the flat off your bill, you can finally see what your own household uses each quarter.
Ready to Rent Out
A separately metered granny flat is simpler to lease, with no power costs to build into the rent.
Separate Electricity Meters and Sub Meters Explained
There are two ways to meter a granny flat, sometimes called split metering, and we install both.
A separate electricity meter gives the granny flat its own connection point and its own account with an energy retailer. The person living there picks a retailer, gets their own bill and pays it directly. You stay out of the billing completely.
An electricity sub meter for a granny flat sits after your main meter, inside your switchboard. The flat still runs through your account, but the sub meter records exactly what it uses. You read it each billing period and charge that share back.
The right choice depends on who lives in the flat, for how long, and what your current supply can carry. We’ll go through both on site. Our granny flat work covers:
- Separate electricity meters for tenants with their own bill
- Electricity sub metering fitted in your main switchboard
- Underground cabling from the house to the granny flat
- Granny flat wiring & sub-meters, tested before power-on
- New meter panels and switchboard upgrades where needed
- Network notices and compliance certificates lodged for you
Granny Flat Separate Meter Cost
A separate electricity meter for a granny flat, with its own retail account, costs $880 to $1,650 inc. GST. Extra charges apply if your supply needs upgrading to carry the flat’s load, and we assess that on the site visit.
| Job | Guide price (inc. GST) | What’s included / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Separate electricity meter for a granny flat (own account) | $880 to $1,650 | |
| Consumer mains or service mains upgrade for the extra load | Quoted on site | Only when the existing mains can’t carry the flat |
| Switchboard upgrade or three phase upgrade | Quoted on site | See switchboard upgrades and three phase upgrades |
| Standard network application fees | Included | Non-standard network requirements are quoted separately |
| Site inspection and quote | Free |
Guide prices only, including GST. Every site is different, so we give you a fixed written quote after a free site inspection.
Why Sydney Homeowners Choose Dave Fenech Electrical Services
We’ve been trading since 1999, and as an accredited Level 2 Service Provider we keep the whole job with one team. You won’t wait on a second contractor to make the network connection, and paperwork never gets passed between companies.
Before we quote, we check the load the granny flat will add, the size of your consumer mains and the space on your meter panel. If an upgrade is needed, you hear about it up front with a clear price. We also handle connecting power to a granny flat that’s still being built, working around your builder’s schedule.
Need other electrical meter installation in Sydney, such as off-peak or solar metering? We do that too, often on the same visit.
Our Promise: We turn up when we say we will, keep you informed, and leave both homes safely connected and correctly metered.
- Licensed & Insured Level 2 Electricians
- Accredited With Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy
- Clear Quotes, No Hidden Costs
- Granny Flat Metering Across All of Sydney
- Dave Fenech Electrical Services Trading Since 1999
Contact Our Friendly & Experienced Team
Book Your Granny Flat Meter Installation
✓ Network paperwork handled for you ✓ Compliance certificate on every job ✓ Free, no-obligation quotes
How Simple It Is to Upgrade to Separate Metering
If you’ve been wondering how to get a separate electricity meter, it’s easier than most people expect. You make one booking and we take it from there, network paperwork included.
Step 1: Book a site visit online or give us a call.
Step 2: We check your switchboard, mains and the cable route to the flat.
Step 3: You get a fixed quote, and we lodge the network paperwork.
Step 4: We run the cable, fit the meter, test it and switch the flat on.
Most of the work happens with your power still on. The main house only goes off for a short time during the final connection, and we agree that time with you first.
Granny Flat Metering FAQs
Does a granny flat need its own electricity meter?
Not always. A granny flat can run off the main house supply with no extra metering at all. The trouble starts when someone else lives there and pays their own way. With one meter and one bill, there’s no fair way to work out who used what, and that’s where most disputes between owners and occupants begin. If the flat will ever be rented out, meter it from the start.
Which is better for a rented granny flat, a separate meter or a sub meter?
For a long-term tenant, a separate meter is usually the cleaner option. The tenant opens their own retail account, the retailer bills them, and you never chase money. A sub meter usually costs less to set up and suits family members or shorter stays, but you take on reading it and recharging the usage each quarter. We recommend one or the other once we’ve seen your switchboard.
Can I charge my tenant for electricity without a separate meter?
Not for their actual usage. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can only pass electricity usage charges on to a tenant when the premises are separately metered. Without a meter, the only option is to include power in the rent, which means you carry the cost no matter how much the tenant uses. A sub meter or a separate meter fixes that.
How much does a separate electricity meter for a granny flat cost?
As a guide, a separate electricity meter for a granny flat costs $880 to $1,650 inc. GST. Extra charges apply if your consumer mains or service mains need upgrading to carry the flat’s load, or if you need a switchboard upgrade or three phase. We assess all of that on a free site visit and give you a fixed quote in writing.
Who organises the new meter, you or my energy retailer?
Both play a part. We handle the electrical work and the network paperwork. For a separate meter, whoever will pay the flat’s bill also sets up an account with an energy retailer, and the retailer arranges the meter on their side. We tell you exactly when to make that call so it lines up with our work. A sub meter doesn’t involve a retailer at all.
Can you connect power to a granny flat that’s still being built?
Yes. During construction we can set up temporary site power so the trades have safe power from day one. At fit-off stage we run the permanent supply from the house, install the meter or sub meter and connect the flat. Builders and owner-builders can book us in around their program, so the electrical connection doesn’t hold up handover.
Will I need to upgrade my switchboard or supply for a granny flat?
Sometimes. A granny flat adds a kitchen, hot water, air conditioning and lighting to the property’s total load. An older home with a small single phase supply or a full switchboard may not carry that safely. In that case we’ll recommend a switchboard upgrade, larger consumer mains or a single to three phase upgrade, and explain why before any work starts.
How does the power get from the house to the granny flat?
Usually through an underground cable in conduit, run from your main switchboard or meter panel to a new sub-board inside the flat. We plan the route to avoid pipes, paths and garden beds where we can, and we trench to the depth the wiring rules require. Overhead runs are possible on some blocks, but underground is neater and safer in a backyard.
Can a house have two electricity meters?
Yes. Two meters on one property is common for granny flats, duplexes and dual occupancy homes. Each meter records a separate part of the property, and each can carry its own retail account. If you’re asking how to get a second electric meter installed, start with a site visit. Whether a second retail meter is allowed depends on network rules for your type of dwelling, and we check that before quoting.
Can a garage, studio or home office have its own meter?
A sub meter is the usual answer for a converted garage, studio or workshop. It shows exactly what that space uses, which helps when you’re working out business running costs or sharing bills with family. A separate retail meter generally needs the space to be a self-contained dwelling, so we’ll confirm on site whether a separate electric meter for your garage is an option.
Will the granny flat electricity meter be a smart meter?
Yes. New and replacement retail meters installed today are digital smart meters. They’re read remotely, so nobody needs to get into your meter box, and the occupant can track their usage through their retailer. Digital sub meters are available too, and they’re far easier to read accurately than the old spinning-disc type.
How does solar on the main house work with a granny flat meter?
It depends on the setup. With a sub meter, the flat draws power through the main house supply, so your solar can cover some of its daytime usage and you recharge the occupant from the sub meter reading. With a separate meter, the flat is on its own account and your solar doesn’t offset its bill. We’ll explain how each option affects your solar returns before you decide.
Can you add a sub meter to a granny flat that’s already connected?
Yes, and it’s one of the quicker jobs we do. If the flat already runs off the main house, we can usually fit a sub meter in the main switchboard on the existing circuit that feeds it. If the board is full or out of date, we’ll talk through a small upgrade first. It’s the fastest way to start splitting the bill fairly without changing anyone’s retail account.
Will we lose power while the work is done?
Only briefly. Cabling, trenching and wiring inside the granny flat all happen while the house power stays on. The supply has to be isolated for the final connection at the meter panel, and we keep that shutdown as short as we can. We agree the time with you in advance, so nobody’s caught with a fridge full of food and no power.
Do you also install a separate water meter for the granny flat?
No, water metering is plumbing work that goes through Sydney Water and a licensed plumber. We look after the electricity side only. If you’re setting up the flat for rent, it’s worth asking your plumber about water around the same time we install the electricity meter, so both utilities are sorted before the tenant moves in.
Will I get a compliance certificate for the work?
Yes. Every job is tested before the power goes on, and we issue a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work. For any work on the network connection we also lodge the required notices with Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy. Keep these with your granny flat approval documents, because certifiers, insurers and future buyers can ask to see them.
Do I need a Level 2 electrician for granny flat metering?
For a separate meter, yes. Work on the network connection and service mains has to be done by a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider. A sub meter sits on your side of the main meter, so a licensed electrician can fit it. We’re both, so the right person does each part without you bringing in another company. Read more about our Level 2 electrical services.
Can I subdivide later if the granny flat has its own meter?
A granny flat meter on its own doesn’t set the block up for subdivision. If you’re subdividing or building a dual occupancy that will be sold separately, each lot needs its own network connection, and that’s a bigger job than metering a granny flat. Our subdivision electricity service covers that work, and we can plan both together if a subdivision is on the cards.
Which parts of Sydney do you cover for granny flat electrical connections?
We cover all of Sydney from our base in St Marys. That includes Penrith, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Parramatta, the Hills District, Liverpool, Bankstown, Punchbowl, Campbelltown and the suburbs in between. Wherever your granny flat electrical connection is, book a site visit and we’ll come to you to look at the switchboard, the cable route and the metering options.
Book Your Granny Flat Metering in Sydney Today
Dave Fenech Electrical Services connects power to granny flats, installs separate electricity meters and sub meters, and upgrades the switchboards and mains behind them, right across Sydney. One Level 2 team handles the wiring, the network paperwork and the final connection.
We’ve been trading since 1999, we give clear quotes, and every job comes with a compliance certificate. Book a site visit and we’ll show you the simplest way to set up granny flat metering for your property.