Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can probably find answers to questions you might have about our
services in these FAQs. If you do not, please contact
us so that we can provide the information you want.
Q: What do we gain
by individual billing of our multi-family units?
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A: A lot! Among the major benefits are:
- If you are paying for utility usage, allocation transfers up
to several thousand dollars per year per unit from your overhead
to
the resident.
- You transfer a fluctuating expense (for water or natural
gas or electricity)
to residents, allowing you more predictability in budgeting
your property management expenses. You do not have to keep raising
rental fees to keep up with rising utility rates
- Your property’s value
is significantly increased.
Individual billing usually results in decreased usage by
residents, which has significant conservation implications.
Q: What can Submeter One do
to improve our cost efficiency?
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A: Submeter One provides Read/Bill/Collect services
for your multi-family community utility use. That is, we Read
the usage for each
unit, we Bill the unit resident, and we Collect the monthly
charges. Whether your units are submetered or use a RUBS
allocation or
other
method
to determine per-unit expenses, we remove the burden of
these tasks from your management team, saving you time and money.
In addition, we offer inclusive submetering system design, installation,
and support services. Contact us for more information.
Q: How is this service paid
for?
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A: We charge a monthly fee per billed unit that is typically added
to the individual resident bill; thus our RBC services cost you
nothing.
Q: What if we do not currently use
submetering or RUBS? How can you bill?
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A: There are industry-standard formulas that permit a fairly equitable
billing of residents (RUBS). Submetering provides the most accurate
and equitable way to determine charges.
Q: So what is submetering and
how does it work?
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A: Submetering is just what it sounds like. In addition to the
existing master water meter, for example, small individual water
“sub”-meters are installed at each water usage point—faucets,
dishwashers, washing machines, showers, toilets, and so on. These
meters communicate via radio waves with a central data collection
device. The data is automatically sent to Submeter One by wireless
devices for collation and bill generation. This technology is
known as ARM.
Q: Can we submeter our units?
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A: Probably! As is the case with most technologies, the most
economical way to submeter is in new construction. But units can
be retrofitted
as well, although the initial investment is higher. Submeter One
can provide an analysis of your property to determine the feasibility
of submetering. And we can provide the submetering system design
and installation for water and sewage, electricity, and natural
gas.
Q: Can submetering do anything
else? For example, help us or our residents manage utility use
and
flow?
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A: Until now, the answer was “No;” available submetering
systems did not permit such control. But Submeter One has developed
a new, groundbreaking technology that allows you, us, your residents,
or even your utility company to control flow remotely. This computer-managed
feature can be critical in dealing with water shortages or brown-outs
and in maintaining minimal services in cases of no- or slow-pay.
See Products.
Q: Can Submeter One manage
billing for other services we might offer our residents? Garbage
pickup, for example?
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A: Absolutely! Whatever services you offer—garbage pickup,
waste disposal, cable, Internet access, and so on—can be
billed by Submeter One. This also simplifies matters for your residents,
who
receive a single bill rather than dealing with multiple
bills.
Q: How do residents pay?
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A: The easiest way is via secure internet access provided through
the Submeter One website. The resident is assigned a login and password
that lets him or her pay directly from a bank account or by major
credit card. A resident can, of course, mail the payment to Submeter
One for processing using the payment stub and envelope provided
with each bill.
Q: How can our management
team keep track of billing, usage, and other factors of interest?
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A: Management uses its own secure internet access provided through
the Submeter One website. Members of the management team are assigned
logins and passwords that give them access to up-to-date reports
and tracking information. Reports are provided both in PDF format
and in CSV ASCII format, which can be exported to Excel spreadsheets.
In addition to standard reports, your organization may wish Submeter
One to develop customized reporting tools to provide information
that your particular business organization needs.
Q: What kind of technical
support is available to us from Submeter One?
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A: At Submeter One, our goal is to provide the support and services
required by our clients. Both telephone
and email support are
provided; other support is available as required.
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