Philippine E-Journals

Design for the Adaptation of Prepayment Energy Metering System for Multi-Tenant Offices and Rented Building Establishment

Ferdinand D. Milan

 

Abstract:

This research study could be used as a model scheme in the adaptation of prepayment energy metering system of commercial building establishment designed with multi-tenant offices and rented accommodation like student flats as an alternative sub-metering system. A prepayment sub-meter was designed and operated with magnetic strip card in the form of KW-HR denominations in order to validate the electrical energy needed by each tenant to operate their office equipment. The adaptation of prepayment energy system could also provide important benefits to both tenants and landlords especially during regular operation. Because of prepayment energy system, tenants can easily control their consumption without expecting any future obligation on energy bills. Prepayment energy system has no paper bills required hence; it eradicated possible recurrent disagreement between tenant and landlord due to unpredictable energy consumption. This research covers the analysis and evaluation of energy usage of selected tenants offices of a building establishment like the STG Building based on the available existing appliances and equipment. The Energy Equivalent Costs (EEC) were projected and evaluated in order to validate the possible energy cost to denominations using magnetic strip card for prepayment system of each tenant. The Projected Demand Energy Utilization (PDEU) of A1 Travel Agency tenant office is approximately 20.32Kw-hrs with daily and monthly EEC of Php152.40 and Php3, 962.24 respectively while the PDEU of RGC Law & Associates tenant office was around 50Kw-hrs with daily and monthly EEC of Php288.75 and Php7, 507.50 respectively. The PDEU of former office tenant (Prime Power Engineering Corporation) of STG Building (formerly Dulay Building) was projected at 7.62Kw-hrs with projected daily and monthly EEC of approximately Php57.15 and Php1, 485.90 respectively. Based on the Energy Equivalent Cost data, the KW-HR denomination for prepayment energy system was projected at 5KW-HR to 100KW-HR with the equivalent cost of around Php37.50 and Php37.50 respectively. In order to assess the acceptability level for possible adaptation of prepayment sub-metering system, an evaluation instrument was utilized to assess the design characteristic of prepayment sub-meter based on calculated weighted rate scale (CWRS). From the assessment and evaluation, the overall level of acceptability is at 4.25 or highly acceptable.