A Deep Dive into Mixed-Source Billing
Accurately recover costs from backup generators and solar PV. This page details the Mixed-Source Billing engine, a critical part of our Metering & Cost Recovery solution. It ensures tenants are billed the correct, compliant rate for the specific source they consumed, providing complete financial transparency.
The Critical Need for Mixed-Source Billing
In a modern building, tenants no longer consume power from just one source. Between municipal grid supply, backup generators during loadshedding, and Onsite Solar (PV) generation, the energy mix is complex. Mixed-Source Billing is the process of accurately measuring and billing for consumption from each of these different sources, and it is critical for fair and legal cost recovery.
Ensure Fair & Compliant Cost Recovery
Different energy sources have different costs. Billing a tenant for expensive generator power at the same rate as cheaper municipal power is unfair and often non-compliant. Our platform ensures every kilowatt-hour is billed at the correct, compliant rate for the specific source that produced it.
Provide Complete Financial Transparency
This process provides auditable proof of where energy came from and how it was billed. This builds trust with tenants, as they can clearly see they are not being overcharged for backup power, and it gives landlords the data to prove the profitability of their solar assets.
Localized E-E-A-T Fact
With South Africa experiencing frequent loadshedding, the ability to accurately recover backup generator costs has become a financial necessity for landlords. The Augos platform provides the auditable data required to legally and fairly bill for this service, turning a major operational headache into a managed cost-recovery process.
How We Bill for Different Energy Sources
Our platform uses real-time data and a powerful rules engine to manage this complexity automatically.
Municipal Grid Billing
Standard municipal tariffs are applied automatically, including complex Time of Use (TOU) rates, demand charges, and seasonal variations. Our NERSA-compliant tariff database ensures accuracy.
Backup Generator Billing
When a power outage occurs and the generator is running, the platform measures the generator's output or runtime. It applies a pre-configured, auditable cost (e.g., a cost-per-kWh calculated from diesel usage and maintenance costs). This cost is then accurately allocated and billed only to those tenants who consumed power from the generator during that specific outage.
Generator power is typically 3-5x more expensive than grid power. Our system ensures you recover these higher costs fairly.
Onsite Solar (PV) Billing
The platform applies NERSA-compliant rules for Renewable Energy Arbitrage (REA). It measures the solar energy consumed by each tenant and bills them at the appropriate, compliant rate. This rate is typically set at or just below the municipal tariff, providing a transparent and regulated way for landlords to recover costs and see a return on their solar asset.
Our NERSA-compliant REA engine ensures your solar billing is always legal and defensible.
Consolidated, Itemized Invoicing
All charges—from the grid, the generator, and solar—are clearly and separately itemized on the tenant's final bill, providing ultimate transparency and preventing disputes.
Real-Time Source Detection
Our smart metering infrastructure automatically detects when the power source changes—from grid to generator, from generator back to grid, or when solar generation begins or ends. This real-time detection ensures accurate billing without manual intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mixed-Source Billing
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See how our platform handles complex energy sources with precision and compliance.