“I’d sure like to install a sub-metering system, but my property has only a few units it’s just too expensive.”
These same people are quite surprised when they find out that the actual equipment and installation costs are very affordable, even for small sized properties. Recent technological improvements in sub-metering equipment and the emergence of low cost cell based remote reading systems have brought easy and affordable new solutions to the industry.
Water rates in the City of Seattle have increased over 9.2% from 2015 to 2017 and are slated to rise 4.6% annually until 2020. Sewer rates are based on water usage and have been rising over 5% per year. And the sewer charge for a typical local property is more than double the cost of water. In short, water and sewer rates are dramatically increasing and making it more difficult than ever for property owners to cover this cost within the monthly rent.
Accurately allocating utility usage is a common problem for many owners and managers of landlords and property managers. The State of Washington allows you to meter your tenants individually and then charge them for the actual amount they’ve used. This process is called sub-metering. You still pay your normal utility bills as you always have been, but now you get to recover that cost by billing your tenants for their usage as measured on the new individual meters. Installing a new sub-metering system will offer a return on investment (ROI) that is typically less than one year.
Water and sewer utilities are based on water consumption and can be sub-metered by installing a water meter for each unit. In the best case scenario, your building’s plumbing system will allow a water meter to be installed on the individual unit’s single water supply feed pipe. In many older buildings, however, the water lines in each unit do not have a single point of access. In this case, a water meter can be installed at each unit’s hot water tank. This method measures the percentage of hot water used by each resident and, based on this calculation, the total water and sewer utility can be allocated to each resident accordingly.
Utility grade water meters that have the latest advancements in accuracy, low lead certification, installation flexibility, and digital pulse signal output are available for less than $100 each. Meters can be installed virtually anywhere – hiding in a wall or ceiling, located either inside the resident’s unit or outside the building. Meters are typically supplied with mating meter couplings allowing the plumber to install them on any material type of pipe.
Older outdated metering systems required that each meter had to be manually read each month. Sophisticated wireless automated meter reading systems have been used by larger properties for many years. But most of these systems have a high initial equipment cost and require a dedicated telephone line or internet connection for remote access.
Recently released new products now bring the advantages and simplicity of a wireless meter reading system at a price that is affordable for any size building – even down to a duplex. Wireless transmitters are connected to the water meters that send the meter data to the NoWire ™ display device located at the property. The NoWire ™ display (price- $795) can then be paired with other compatible products that offer access to the meter data remotely via telephone line, internet connection and now even GSM cell systems using inexpensive monthly SMS service plans.
With these new remote meter reading systems, property owners or managers can sign up to receive a monthly email with the meter readings that they can use to bill their tenants for their portion of the utility cost. Or management can have a 3rd party billing company calculate and prepare utility bills that are sent directly to tenants for a small service charge added to each bill that is paid for by the tenant.
Stop by our booth at this year’s Trends Tradeshow on December 14th to see a demonstration of NoWire ™ and a cell based remote meter reading system. Or contact us directly by calling (425) 228-6831 or visiting https://submetersolutions.com. Ask us about gas and electric sub-metering systems too.
Nationwide service. No unit minimum.
