Sharing a house with someone is common in the First World. Sometimes the electric bill causes a problem. The main meters only show the total usage of the house. It doesn’t show energy usage by individual units, tenants, departments, pieces of equipment, or other loads. To monitor the usage we can use a Sub-meter.
How much does it cost to install a submeter?
The average installation cost for Sub Meter is approximately $300 to $600. Estimated submeter equipment or hardware costs around $120 to $180.
Electricians or Plumbers cost almost $60 to $100 per hour. You have to pay an extra $1.90 to $3.50 monthly for the meter-reading fee.
Sub Meter Installation Cost Summary
There is 2 major sub-meter, one is a water submeter and another is an electric submeter. The following is a comprehensive list of water submeter installation costs and electric submeter installation costs.
| Type of Sub Meter | Installation Cost |
| Water Sub Meter | $250-$300 |
| Electric Sub Meter | $300-$600 |
Submeter installation cost factors
We need to purchase metering once the property is wired. There are various types of meters available on the market. We have to choose the right model for your property that suits your utility management.
You will find a variety of gas meters, electric meters, and water meters. The property manager or building owners will choose the best one to monitor the master meter.
The final part of the installation cost is installing the meters. As soon as the property is fully prepared, the meters are installed in individual units. The meters will be commissioned and tested to ensure that they’re reading properly.
Submeter installation cost depends on 4 factors. Some of them are
- Submeter cost.
- Electrician’s cost for installing.
- Permission or permits cost if you don’t have any.
- Hardware or equipment costs if any parts are required to be changed.
Submeter installation cost includes all the costs together. The total Charge depends on the labor cost or the electrician’s cost.
What is Submeter?
A sub-meter is a device that records energy usage after a primary utility meter has been installed. It monitors everything in its territory. So will give you a clear picture of how and when you consumed electricity.
Submeter helps you to create an accurate bill for renters. Sub-metering is the best way to collect accurate information about energy uses in your house.
Types of Submeter
There are three types of sub-meters. The three types of meters are the gas meter, the electric meter, and the water meter. Here you’ll learn all the sub-meter installation processes, costs, and benefits.
How much does it cost to install a water sub-meter?
Submetering can bring responsibility to water consumers. It reduces water costs by 15% to 40%. Installing a submeter is inexpensive. Know water service meter requirements from here.
The estimated cost for installing water submetering is about $250 to $300.
This water sub-meter cost has two major parts. One is Equipment or hardware cost and the other one is Plumber cost. The hardware and equipment cost is around $100 to $150. A plumber can take $60 to $200 per hour to submeters for water.
Water Submeter Installation Cost Summary
In the following table, we show the costs of installing a water meter – Hardware, Equipment, and Plumbing (along with the average estimate)
| Type of Cost | Price Range |
| Hardware & Equipment | $100-$150 |
| Plumber | $60-$200 (per hour) |
| Installation Cost | $250-$300 |
Costs associated with installing a residential submeter
One-time WSSC Water Submeter Installation charge:
| One-time inspection Fee | $66 |
| Small sub-meter charge | $261 |
| Large sub-meter charge | $528 |
| Plumbing permit/Inspection Fee | $132 (first fixture; $53 for each additional fixture) |
Here you can check some technical water meter selection guidelines before choosing any water meter.
Does the water submeter save money?
Water submeters are used to measure household water usage within a facility. It gives you a total picture of your water consumption. You can find where you waste water.
It can help you to find water damage means it will find if there’s any leak. It will help you reduce water rates by lessening water usage.
How much does it cost to install an electric sub-meter?
Using electric submeters to measure utility usage provides valuable insight into how a facility operates. The utility bill gives us a total utility cost for overall energy consumption.
It doesn’t show the individual unit’s energy bill rather it gives the total energy cost. Individual tenants are dissatisfied with this. An electric submeter can solve this problem.
The total Installation cost for the electric sub-meter is around $300 to $600. The costs of submeter equipment or hardware are around $120 to $180. Estimated electricians cost almost $60 to $100 per hour.
Electric Sub Meter Installation Cost Summary
The cost of installing an electric meter is listed below (including the electrician’s fee)
| Major Cost Sector | Price Range |
| Electrician Charge | $60-$100 |
| Equipment or Hardware | $120-$180 |
| Total Cost (Average) | $300-$600 |
What are the benefits of submetering?
Installing a new submeter system on your multi-unit property will give you unlimited benefits. Some of them are:
- Submeter gives accurate data to the owner of the property
- It provides real-time data and a clear view of each section’s energy use.
- When tenants learn how much they are spending on electricity, they adjust their usage accordingly.
- Owners can find where the energy is wasting and fixed it.
- It also helps to find leakage in its system.
According to the General Services Administration (GSA), upon installation, there is around a 0-2 percent drop in energy-saving costs. 2-5% improvement cost in the occupant awareness section.
Total improvement in raising awareness among occupants and having ongoing identification of options and maintenance improvements can essentially result in savings of 15-45 percent.
A 25% reduction in a $60 annual water bill equates to $15 per month or $180 per year.
How to save money by installing a submeter?
Some people don’t install a submeter because of its cost. We can give you some tips to save money. Here is the step-by-step process of installing a submeter
- First You may find a certain electrician or plumber who charges less than others.
- You can choose a no-wire meter system. Installing this type of system doesn’t need rewiring or additional electrical work.
- You can install your submeter by yourself.
Related: How Much Does it Cost to Install a Backflow Preventer?
Monthly Cost after Submeter Installation
The submeter system needs only to be maintained on a monthly basis. You have to pay an extra $1.90 to $3.50 monthly for the meter-reading fee. You can create energy invoices for each unit very easily.
Now I’m answering the most common question people also asked about (Submeter Installation): FAQ
Is submeter legal all over the world?
Submeter is legal in most countries and states. You don’t need to take a headache. Before you install a submeter you just need to consult the meter with the utility management vendor.
Does submetering save money?
Submeter dragged your over-energy consumption habit. So your utility bill will decrease. ultimately it helps you to save your money.
Can I install my own submeter?
Submeter installation isn’t an easy task to do. Installation of an electric submeter needs professional electricians who can examine the whole system. For the water submeter, you need a plumber to check the whole water system.
These works are critical for normal people. Submeter installation cost is less inexpensive than we think. So hiring professionals for this job is the best decision.
If I use water outside of my home; Is it worth getting a water meter?
There’s a lot of water used only outside your home for watering the lawn or gardening or filling a pool. Our sewage system does not receive water. Submeters may be a cost-effective solution for you. In this case, the Sewer Usage fee reflects only household water usage.
This cost-effective guide to installing a submeter will help you to reduce your monthly cost. You can ask or share your experience with Sub Meter. Keep reading to learn more about the house bill, submetering, and other related information.
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