Make energy costs fair in your estate
GridAI measures solar, grid and generator use for every unit and common area in real time – including time-of-use tariffs and demand charges – and turns it into clear, dispute-free bills.
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How GridAI Works
Tracks, in real time, how much solar, grid and generator energy every unit and common area uses
Allocates tariffs, demand charges and diesel costs fairly, so no one is unknowingly subsidising their neighbours
Unlocks higher estate-wide savings than scattered individual solar systems, because a central plant can be shared on transparent, fair terms
The real challenge: fair, defensible billing
Adding a central solar system – and often a generator, batteries or time-of-use tariffs – makes an estate’s electricity bill much more complex. Traditional bulk and prepaid meters can’t show who used how much solar, who drove the peak that set the demand charge, or who should carry diesel costs when the generator runs. That’s when cross-subsidies creep in, bills feel arbitrary, and trustees end up in the firing line.
GridAI fixes this at the metering and billing layer. We track solar, grid and generator energy in real time for every unit and common area, then apply transparent rules to allocate savings, demand charges and diesel fairly. Residents can see the data for themselves on dashboards and statements, which makes approvals easier and keeps trust high – regardless of whether the project is estate-funded, financed or backed by a third party.
Monitor Energy with Real-Time Dashboards
Get total energy transparency with dashboards for individual units and the whole complex. Our dashboards are fully customizable, allowing you to view everything from PV output and prepaid credit balances to detailed usage metrics.
Demand Charge Allocation
Electricity bills typically include variable charges (based on energy usage), demand charges (based on peak power), and fixed charges. The demand charge, often a substantial part of the bill, is based on the highest peak usage within a billing cycle. GridAI pinpoints each resident’s contribution to that peak and bills accordingly, creating a clear incentive to shift energy usage to midday or use timers for geysers - ultimately helping reduce the overall demand during costly morning and evening peaks.
Transforming Solar in Sectional Title Estates & Complexes
Solar in sectional title estates and complexes is uniquely challenging. A large central solar power system is essential for unlocking significant savings, but outdated metering technology cannot differentiate between solar energy, council energy or generator output, or, in the case of existing prepaid systems, deal with central solar at all. Without GridAI metering, the allocation of solar savings and diesel or demand-charge costs becomes unfair, and creates no incentive to shift usage.
GridAI changes that dynamic by introducing advanced metering that precisely tracks energy consumption in real time. Our technology accurately separates solar energy from council energy usage, ensuring a transparent and fair distribution of savings. With GridAI, solar in estates and complexes becomes not only accessible but also cost-effective - empowering owners to embrace a sustainable future and maximise savings.
Free Practical Guide for Estate and Complex Trustees
Whether your complex is planning solar or already has a system that’s causing disagreements, this free guide helps trustees and managing agents get clarity. It explains how to keep energy costs and savings fair, how to deal with situations where some households benefit more than others, and what to do when outages, generators or diesel costs become impossible to allocate cleanly. If you want a clearer, simpler way to govern shared energy decisions and avoid disputes, this guide will help you get there.
Click the button below to access the guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if the complex already has solar installed?
GridAI can work with existing solar, whether it is central solar or smaller solar power systems owned by individuals wanting to send their surplus solar to their neighbours.
In a sectional-title complex, is a special resolution still required with GridAI?
Securing approval for solar in a sectional title complex often hinges on a special resolution for body corporate spending or debt. Different owners may have conflicting budgets or investment horizons, making the required consensus difficult to achieve. However, with GridAI, all you need is permission to place solar panels on common property (like shared roofing areas).
Typically, installing central solar involves calling a special general meeting, where at least 33% of owners (or their proxies) must be present. Of those attending, a 75% vote in favor is necessary to move forward. This resolution specifically includes permission to install and operate solar on common property. Source: Nedbank
Is rewiring of the complex needed with GridAI?
Fortunately, installing GridAI doesn’t require extensive (and expensive) rewiring. GridAI meters and solar are added to the complex's electricity network, without needing any major changes or duplicate wiring. Instead, our technology monitors energy flow in real time, keeping track of every kilowatt consumed. In what is called an AC-coupled setup, solar power seamlessly routes to a resident’s large appliance when needed - and GridAI accurately logs and bills that usage, ensuring precise allocation of savings without the hassle of major infrastructure changes.
Have a question? Let us know in the contact form below.
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Start your journey towards real solar savings and cutting-edge technology for your estate, complex or apartment building.
General Enquiries
+27 74 555 6479 | Tom@GridAI.co.za | info@GridAI.co.za
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