How to Select the Right in a Multi Family Utility Submetering System

One of the difficulties of owning and managing an apartment complex or other multi-family residence is to accurately bill each unit for their electricity and water use. By installing a submetering system, you can take the stress and hassle out of multi family utility billing, esepically when you choose an option that includes automatic billing, such as the services from NWP Services Corporation. When consulting with your options, you should keep the following criteria in mind.

What is Your Need

Not every community needs this type of system to handle multi family utility billing, so before you install a system, you should ensure that you are in need. Many properties may already have a functional system in place, but some older systems may be outdated and need to be replaced. Therefore, if you already have a system in place, you should assess its accuracy and reliability, as well as other features such as automated billing, and compare it with newer systems to see if it is cost efficient for you to install a new system. Additionally, most areas require some type of submetering, and may also have guidelines on the type of system you can use. Therefore, you should also review your local and state legislation associated with meter use to ensure you are or will be compliant.

What Type of System do You Need

Once you have determined that you should install a new submeter, it is time to determine the type of system. You can find options that are remotely read and others that require manual readings of the meters. You can also find systems that can be retrofitted into older residences to provide you with the abilities of the newer systems without the need for a large-scale construction project. Before installing a new system or retrofitting your current system, you should first ensure that you select a product that is flexible, with the ability to work with different billing systems and even be updated to new technologies when needed. You also want to check that the company providing the multi family utility readings works with the electric, gas, water, and other utility companies in your area. When choosing a system, ensure that it will be easy to maintain with easy to find replacement parts.

Additional Features

When determining the right multi family utility system to implement, you should also compare the different additional features provided. For example, some submeter systems also include leak detection systems to help you easily find and fix any leaks before it becomes a problem. This also will monitor any high water usage in the area in order to reduce the overall utility expense and encourage a greener community. Although some of these additional features have an additional cost, some companies will incorporate certain premium services at no cost.

When you look to install a new submetering system for your apartment complex or other residence with multi family utility billing, you should consider the features that you want from the system. You have a selection of systems that can either replace your current system or work with what you already have. The most important consideration is to find something that is flexible enough to work with any utility company and billing system so that you do not have to change your submeter system if anything else changes.

Weston Barnes is a write and an avid reader. When he's not writing about business, marketing, health, pets, or relationships, he's immersed in his latest book.