Metering of Owned Spaces

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CJM

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I am working on a project that has three floors of both residential and commercial spaces. The spaces are to be sold and not leased. Currently we are planning on providing separate meters from the utility company for each space; however, the question has arrised if we can provide only (2) meters for the entire building, (1) for residential and (1) for commercial. Then the building association would charge a fee to the owners to pay the electrical bill. The questions has also been asked if we could use an E-mon D-mon metering system to figure out how much to charge each owner. My overall question is are there any codes or utility requirements that would require each individual owner to have their own utility meter?
 
Most building codes require each residential space to have a separate meter. You should check yours. Beyond that, Bryan is correct, it's a utility matter.

Jim T
 
I short time ago it was illegeal to sell electric power unless you were a utility. In other word, you couldn't meter a tenant's power and charge them for the amount of electricity they used. Even if you only sold it for what it cost you.

However, I think deregulation has changed this, and I think it is now legal.

What happens if an owner refuses to pay for his electricity? You should probably at least include a means to shut off power to each space separately. Assuming that the POCO is OK with a single meter for more than one owner.

Steve
 
In this state (Kentucky), submetering by anyone other than the poco is illegal. The PSC views this as setting up your own (unregulated) utility company (to resell electricity, even if there is no markup).

I found this out quite by accident when I had a dentists office to bid....the dentist wanted to submeter part of the building for a future tenant. I happened to ask the poco field engineer about it. He told me about all of the rules and liabilities of being a 'utility' company.
 
One way around the legal aspects of this issue is to add a premium to the tenant lease for power use. This is how a few large developers reduce initial installation costs. Take Wal-Mart for example. A single super center may have several tenant spaces for various occupancies such as a restaurant, bank, optical center, ect. but is only has one service with one meter.

Apparently, the tenants pay a "premium" for the space. This premium includes common electrical use.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I dont know about other areas but here the residential rate goes up after first 1,000 kw,so i would not like paying the higher amount.
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Damn TECO. Shame on PROGRESS ENERGY. lol... quick reference...PROGRESS ENERGY residential rates...customer charge, $8.03 per mo. Energy charge, 1st 1,000kWh 4.900 cent per kWh. all kWh above 1,000 5.900 cent per kWh. fuel charge 1st 1,000 kWh 4.979per and above 5.979 per kWh. And they claim they are commited to the customer???? More like commited to make us all BROKE. LOL
 
Submetering

Submetering

In my state, the power Co specifically says no submetering. You can charge tenants a prorated amount of the electric bill by the square foot, but you cannot charge them by the KW. Buildings with only one meter typically charge by the square foot, and pity the guy with a tax preparer's office right next to a store full of refrigeration, because the guy in the office pays the same $ per square foot as the guy with all the motors. Your state may vary.
 
dingokangaroo said:
Damn TECO. Shame on PROGRESS ENERGY. lol... quick reference...PROGRESS ENERGY residential rates...customer charge, $8.03 per mo. Energy charge, 1st 1,000kWh 4.900 cent per kWh. all kWh above 1,000 5.900 cent per kWh. fuel charge 1st 1,000 kWh 4.979per and above 5.979 per kWh. And they claim they are commited to the customer???? More like commited to make us all BROKE. LOL
Click to expand...

Care to see where the money is going ? Look at the new buildings going up for progress in clearwater,i am working there now.
 
each state has their own rules. contact your public utilities commision for the rules and regulations. here in florida you can sub-meter legally and actually charge above the power company's rates to cover your billing costs. we have installed e-mon systems on many sub tenants. the meter must be utility rated ---called "ansi-2c". and also remember -- it is your responsibilty for the accuracy of the metering equipment and it's proper installation and maintainance. if one of your customers proves an inaccurate bill --- you could be paying them back every dollar in utility charges you required..... e-mon is utility rated..............
 
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