Unlocking solar for
complexes, estates and apartments
GridAI supplies a reliable solar system for free and recovers costs by managing your complex’s electricity metering.
GridAI supplies a reliable solar system for free and recovers costs by managing your complex’s electricity metering.
Tracks, in real-time, the electricity from a single central solar system as it flows to residents and common areas
Enables fair + transparent billing - it's the only way to split solar savings fairly
Yields significantly higher savings than individual solar systems
Most estates have two options when adopting solar: either pay the full cost upfront using Body Corporate funds, or take on body corporate debt. GridAI introduces a third alternative: the Body Corporate simply authorizes GridAI to manage electricity billing. We then allocate initial savings to repay the funder, and once the system is paid off, all further savings flow directly to participating owners.
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.
💡Tip: on mobile, rotate ↻ your screen for better viewing.
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.
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 A large central solar power system is essential for unlocking significant savings, but outdated metering technology cannot differentiate between solar energy and council energy, or, in the case of existing prepaid systems, deal with central solar at all. Without GridAI metering, the allocation of solar savings becomes unfair, and creates no incentive to shift usage during peak sunlight hours.
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.
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.
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
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.
Start your journey towards real solar savings and cutting-edge technology for your estate, complex or apartment building.
+27 60 966 2367 | Tom@GridAI.co.za | info@GridAI.co.za
© GridAI 2025