What is a shared electric meter?

A shared meter is a single meter that measures what is being used by 1 apartment or unit, and some space outside that apartment. That space could be another apartment or the common areas of an apartment building or duplex. If you are not sure if you have a shared meter, ask your utility company to check and tell you.

Do I have a shared meter?

If you think that your utility bill seems too high or that your service connections are suspicious, you may have a “shared meter.” This means that your utility meter is measuring gas or electric service to space or machinery outside your apartment (such as to public hall lights or another apartment).

How do you split utilities with tenants?

How Much Should Each Suite Pay? You can ultimately split the utilities in whatever way you see fit. One of the ways that many consider to be most fair is to look at how much square footage each suite has, add them both together, and then divide the square footage of each suite to the total to get a percentage.

How does a submeter work?

Electric submeters are basically energy monitors that are attached downstream from electric meters. Each one breaks down the electric usage of individual tenants or dwelling units. It is monitored then broken down for a landlord or property owner to distribute a more accurate utility bill during the billing period.

What is separate utilities?

If utilities are billed separately, rent can be lowered and the property is then made more attractive to potential tenants. Separating utilities is also a great way to encourage utility conservation and responsible usage, leading to a general decline in total costs.

What is the use of submeter?

How do you share house expenses?

To pay shared expenses, you might open a joint checking account and contribute a set amount each month. Then you can set up a “budget date” to review monthly spending. This transparency helps build communication around money and will allow you time to talk about both short-term and future financial goals.

What is the shared meter law in New York?

NEW YORK SHARED METER LAW I. Introduction A “shared meter” is a utility meter that measures gas, electricity or steam service to a tenant’s dwelling, and to areas outside the dwelling, with the tenant paying for service to both areas.1Simply put, residential tenants whose utility meters measure consumption inside and

What do landlords need to know about shared meter?

If the tenant is paying separately, the landlord must state the total cost of utilities for the apartment in writing, and, on request, must provide copies of the utility bill for the building and a copy of each divided utility bill to ensure that every tenant is paying their fair share and no one is being overcharged.

Is it legal to install a separate meter in a tenant’s home?

There is a legal prohibition on the installation of a separate meter to measure the service used outside the tenant’s dwelling unit. The cost of installing a separate meter and any associated piping or wiring to separate the uses of service is an extraordinary amount as defined by the Public Service Commission.

Do you have to pay for electricity if you are a renter?

If you’re a renter, you should only be paying for the electricity or gas used inside your apartment. If you are being charged for service that others are using, like lights in a common hallway, you may have what’s called a “shared meter.” Shared meters are governed by the Shared Meter Law, and we may be able to help you get the condition fixed.

NEW YORK SHARED METER LAW I. Introduction A “shared meter” is a utility meter that measures gas, electricity or steam service to a tenant’s dwelling, and to areas outside the dwelling, with the tenant paying for service to both areas.1Simply put, residential tenants whose utility meters measure consumption inside and

If the tenant is paying separately, the landlord must state the total cost of utilities for the apartment in writing, and, on request, must provide copies of the utility bill for the building and a copy of each divided utility bill to ensure that every tenant is paying their fair share and no one is being overcharged.

Is the electricity in an apartment building metered?

In a master-metered building, the utility supplies electricity to the entire building through a utility-owned meter. Individual apartments are not metered, meaning actual consumption cannot be determined or used as a basis for billing electricity charges.

How does a landlord Bill a tenant for electricity?

In situations where a submeter isn’t used, tenants are most commonly billed on the square footage of their rented space. The landlord receives an electrical bill for the entire building and divides the bill among the tenants.