Take control of your energy bill

Submetering refers to the installation of hardware and software to gather information on utility usage (electric, gas, water, steam) by tenants within a building. Many commercial buildings have only a single meter for electricity (or other utilities) and the cost of energy is allocated to tenants on a per square foot basis. This method can work well unless there is volatility in the market price of energy or (more importantly) the energy usage of one or more tenants varies from the rest due to different operating schedules or higher energy density (BTU’s per square foot).

Changes in technology today make the cost of submetering individual tenants substantially lower than just a few short years ago. The development of hardware and software products focused on the submetering category combined with the availability of Internet connections makes submetering a cost-effective alternative for building owners trying to manage utility costs.

Benefits of Submetering

Submetering is the most equitable method of charging tenants for the electricity, water, gas or any other type of utility they use in master-metered buildings. Submetering benefits both building owners and tenants.

For Building Owners

• Encourages conservation by tenants
• Provides opportunities to take advantage of more favorable rates that may be present
• Allows rate increases to be passed on immediately
• Maximizes cost control and improves cash flow
• Increases property value and income

For Tenants

• Immediate savings from conservation
• Pay only for electricity, water, gas, or any other type of utility consumed
• Confidence in fair and equitable allocation of utility costs
• Eliminates disputes over utility-use surveys
• Submetering heightens profitability, increases property values and builds tenant goodwill.
• Submetering also costs less than providing space for the utility's meters

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