Choosing the Right Submetering System
In today's marketplace there are dozens of submetering systems to choose from and not all of them are created equal. There are also cities and states that place restrictions on what type of submeter can be installed for utility bill back purposes.
Some submetering systems are meant for indoor applications, some for outdoor. Many systems utilize an on-site internet connection while other's work over cellular or require visual reading each month. Certain systems have a longer range and are meant for high rises and large scale manufactured housing communities and other systems come in "lite" versions intended for smaller properties.
Regardless of the property type, location or size, our consultative sales professionals will quickly understand your property's infrastructure by asking a few simple questions or visiting the property. We will recommend a submetering system guaranteed to meet your property's needs and keep you in compliance with local rules and regulations. We have the lowest prices and the fastest lead times in the industry.
Our Submetering Expertise
Just about all new multifamily developments are choosing to submeter and bill back for utilities from the start. Guardian's nationwide team of sales professionals, regional project managers and field technicians work directly with developers and builders during all stages of the new construction process. We ensure your submeter system is installed and commissioned on time and for a lower price than the competition.
Submeter
Retrofits
Including utilities with rent, provides little incentive for residents to use less. When you are ready to submeter and start billing back for utilities based on actual usage, we've got you covered. We will recommend a system that meets your property's needs then manage the implementation process from start to finish. We guarantee the lowest submeter pricing and the fastest lead times in the industry.
Maintenance &
Repair
Properly functioning meters help maximize recovery of your utility expenses and protect your bottom line. To ensure these problems are not overlooked, we send our clients automated email alerts spotlighting usage anolmolies and subeters requiring service at their properties. Our nationwide team of project managers and field technicians make necessary repairs and replacements as needed.
Monitoring & Utility Billing
Once your new system is installed, we provide on-going monitoring, leak detection and utility billing services. We have different levels of service depending on your level of management control. Our billing platform integrates with all major property management software. We can also takeover reading and billing using your site's existing submeter system if you are having problems with you current provider.
Submetering: A Continuum from Measurement to Estimation
The term "submetering," as commonly used, has come to mean a process for transferring legal responsibility for utility usage to individual residents in multifamily and other multi-unit properties. Although the term includes the word "meter", submetering can also include utility allocation processes that do not utilize meters but instead are based on formulas that estimate utility usage. Along the continuum from measurement to estimation are hybrid systems which rely on a combination of measurement devices and allocation formulas.
Full Capture Submeter Billing
As the name implies, Full Capture Submetered Billing is used in properties where water, gas or electrical distribution systems permit installation of single-point submeters that measure all the utility usage in each unit. Submeters manufactured to standards established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the American Water Works Association and the American National Standards Institute provide dependable, accurate measurement and billing of utility usage.
Hybrid Billing
Hybrid systems are used in situations where submeters will capture only a part of each unit's utility usage. For example, in some apartment communities the plumbing system will allow submeters to measure only a portion of water used in each dwelling unit. The most common partial capture application is to install a submeter on the cold water line feeding the water heater. This type of "partial capture" submetering is also called Hot Water Capture-Cold Water Allocation Billing. The term "allocation" is used because a portion of each resident's water bill is based on the allocation (or estimation) of cold water usage. The term "hybrid" refers to the fact that this type of submetering is based on both metered and formula allocated usage.
Gas Runtime Allocation is a very specific hybrid system. Many existing apartment communities were originally constructed with heating systems that do not permit individual metering of gas usage. In these communities, high-resolution sensors can be installed to measure the runtime of gas-fired furnaces, hot water heaters and fireplaces. Runtime monitors can also be installed to estimate baseboard heating costs. In both of these applications, distribution losses, standby heating and other unmetered costs are allocated back to individual residents based on a mathematical formula.
Formula Billing
Formula billing uses a mathematical formula to estimate utility usage in each apartment unit. A commonly used form of allocation billing is called Ratio Utility Billing Service (RUBS). RUBS is a form of allocation billing in which the utility charges are based on a formula that takes into account several factors including number of residents in each dwelling unit, the size of each unit, common area usage, master utility usage, occupancy days and the number of water fixtures in each unit. Flat fee billing typically divides utility usage equally among all residents.