Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about submetering? The answer could be right at your fingertips. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for here, please contact us directly, and one of our customer service team members will be happy to help.
What is submetering?
Submetering is the process of distributing utility costs to individual residents in multi-unit rental properties. Costs are distributed on the basis of actual usage as measured by a submeter that is installed in each rental unit.
What utilities can be submetered?
Multi-unit rental properties with a single master utility meter (water) can be individually equipped with submeters so that each resident’s utility usage can be periodically measured and billed.
What types of properties can be submetered?
IIW provides submetering installation and billing services for apartments, condominiums, shopping centers, manufactured housing communities, offices and warehouses. Any multi-unit property that is master-metered can potentially benefit from utility submetering.
Are there laws that regulate utility billing in mult-unit properties?
Regulations vary not only at the state level but also by local jurisdictions. We are kept up-to-date on legislative and regulatory issues that affect our industry. In addition, our utility attorney has over 30 years experience in public utility law and regulation.
Why don’t local water utilities meter the water in apartments?
Most local water utilities are not interested in individually metering apartments and many other types of multi-unit rental property. First, there is a high capital cost for installation of utility read meters. Secondly, the local utility has no incentive to read, bill and collect from several hundred apartment residents when they can more easily and less expensively accomplish the same thing by billing only the property owner. Finally, there is a high labor cost associated with reading on-site meters.
Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Submetering Company
Does the vendor use proprietary submetering products that tie you to their billing service?
IIW submetering products are nonproprietary. This gives our clients maximum flexibility in vendor selection and control.
Does the vendor tie you to long-term billing contracts with large cancellation penalties and automatic renewal triggers?
At IIW, our goal is to earn your business every day by producing results, not contracts.
Does the vendor’s billing contract include add-on charges for initial account-setup?For move-ins and move-outs? For late payment notification letters?
IIW monitoring and billing fees do not include hidden “activity” charges.
Does the vendor employ their own installation and service technicians or do they farm these functions out to subcontractors?
IIW uses only licensed subcontractors.
Does the vendor provide meter kits for owner installed systems?
IIW radio frequency meter kits are pre-programmed and pre-wired for easy installation. We also provide on-site, toll-free 800 assistance for owner installed systems.
Does the vendor provide monthly monitoring and billing options tailored to your desired level of management control?
At IIW, we make every effort to match our clients’ specific needs with our service offerings. To do this, our monthly service options begin with basic (Level One) meter reading and data transmission. We incrementally build on Level One to provide a total of five levels of monitoring and billing service.
Does The vendor provide payment options?
MasterCard/Visa, checks or money orders.
Does the vendor have access to legal advisors with significant utility regulatory experience?
Our utility attorney brings over 30 years of regulatory experience to our submetering service.
