Submetering

Submetering refers to the practice of measuring the energy or water consumption of individual units within a larger building or facility, using separate meters connected to a common main utility supply. It is commonly applied in multi-tenant residential buildings, condominiums, office campuses, and student housing to allocate utility costs to occupants. Submetering can cover electricity, water, gas, and district heating or cooling.

Submeters may be standalone devices or integrated into a building management system. Electric and water submeters are the most common, with gas and heat submeters also used in some properties. Modern installations often use smart submeters or advanced metering infrastructure to provide interval data, remote reading, and outage detection.

Submetering enables fair cost allocation, improves tenant transparency, and supports conservation by making consumption visible. It also aids owners in detecting leaks or equipment inefficiencies and facilitates energy management, benchmarking, and participation in demand response programs where available.

Implementation considerations include selecting appropriate metering standards and data platforms. For electricity, standards in the ANSI C12 family are typical; water metering follows AWWA or related standards. Data privacy and access controls are important, as is ensuring meters are properly sized, installed, and maintained. Lease language and local regulations also influence submetering programs.

Regulatory frameworks vary by jurisdiction. Some regions require explicit tenant consent or regulate back-billing, while others permit pass-through charges with defined limits. Costs include hardware, installation, software, and ongoing data management. Common challenges include meter accuracy, tampering, tenant disputes, and the need for ongoing calibration and maintenance.