Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do my tenants benefit from sub-metering?

Tenants benefit from sub-metering by being charged for only the electricity they consume. When tenants are charged for electricity based on square footage occupied, they subsidize the usage of other tenants. Sub-metering promotes and rewards energy conservation.

2.  How does Quadlogic sub-metering work?

Sub-metering permits the measurement of electric use in individual units via a building-owned meter that is installed for each tenant. The building continues to purchase its electricity on the less expensive commercial or bulk rate basis, but now the owner is able to bill electricity to individual tenants on an actual consumption basis. The relationship between the building and utility remains exactly the same as before. The building continues to receive one bill from the utility and the owner allocates the utility costs based on the usage recorded by the unit sub-meters.

3.  Who will read my Quadlogic meter?

Oakville Hydro Energy Services Inc. (OHESI) provides monthly Quadlogic Meters consumption reports and/or invoices as well as energy analysis information for many of our clients. The property manager sets the rates and collects the revenue. All of our meters are also equipped with a liquid crystal display for local meter reading.

4.  What is the Quadlogic product warranty?

Quadlogic warrants its Series 4 products for a period of 1 year from date of shipment and the Series 5 products for a period of 3 years from date of shipment. Extended Quadlogic warranties are available from your OHESI sales representative.

5.  How will sub-metering affect the building utility bill?

The building's utility billing process and meter-reading schedule will not be affected by the implementation of sub-metering. The building will still be billed under the same rate as before and any changes in utility rates will not be affected by the presence of sub-metering in the building .

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Other Favourite FAQs

What is sub-metering?

Sub-metering is the measurement and billing of electricity use in separate units of a master metered building. The sub-meters are owned by the building and the utility continues to read the building master meter and issue a single billing to the owner.

What are the benefits of Quadlogic sub-metering?

A number of studies and demonstration projects confirm both the short-term and long-term benefits of sub-metering, including:

•  Saving energy . An analysis of sub-metered buildings (where data have been made available) conclusively illustrates that annual savings of 18- 30% of total tenant electric consumption was achieved in the first year.

•  Savings persist over time . Sub-metering savings have proven to be maintainable over long periods of time as demonstrated in a number of studies. Some likely reasons are: (a) that conservation is reinforced by the resident's receipt of an electric bill; and (b) residents will invest in efficiency (e.g., more efficient refrigerators and lighting) because they will reap the benefits directly.

Approximately 60-70% of tenants benefit from sub-metering. The only tenants who fare worse under sub-metering than under other means of allocation electric cost are those who use excessive amounts of electricity. Those residents who find that their electric bills are excessive have the ability to reduce cost by reducing consumption.

•  Pay for Use . Sub-metering simply restores the "userpay" concept. Tenants who leave windows open and leave on lights will pay for their actions or change their habits.

•  Owners Control Operating Budgets. Sub-metering largely eliminates a volatile, variable, and difficult-to-control factor from a building's operating budget. Owners can better predict costs when the only electric usage to be considered is for common areas under management control. Also, the meters' small footprint increases rentable square footage normally wasted on meter rooms.

•  Reduce waste . Sub-metering benefits utilities and society in the same way: by reducing the waste of energy and deferring the need to site, build, or otherwise acquire electric generating capacity.

What is interval metering?

Interval metering is when a meter records demand and consumption during a single day to create an energy usage profile. Typical interval lengths are 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. This data is typically used in energy management applications when a customer needs to know how much power they are using at various times during the day.

What is Time-of-Use (TOU)?

Time-of-Use is when utilities charge a customer different tariff rates for power at different times during the day and week. Often there are on-peak hours, eg 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and off-peak hours for all other hours. TOU schedules can vary from utility to utility.

What does the sub-meter measure?

The sub-meter measures the electricity consumed within the building's separate units. The meter is connected to the circuit breaker, which is the single location through which all electricity flows to the tenant.

How are Quadlogic meters read?

The Quadlogic electronic meter can be read on site or remotely. The meter has a large Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) for on-site viewing, for remote reading the meters communicate via dedicated wiring or over the buildings Power Line Carrier.

How do I know that my meter is accurate?

If your meter has a seal, an Accredited Meter Verifier has tested it as per Measurement Canada regulations. This means the meter has an accuracy error of no more than +/- 1%. The meter owner should also have an inspection certificate showing the meter test date and when the seal expires on the meter.

Why do meters have to be sealed by Measurement Canada?

Measurement Canada, an agency of the Federal Government of Canada, requires, under The Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, that all meters to be used for billing purposes be tested and sealed by an Accredited Meter Verifier (AMV) prior to being put into service.

Explain meter verification?

Under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, electronic meters must be re-verified after a 6-year seal period. This means the meter must be removed from the field and returned to an Accredited Meter Verifier to be run through the same tests, which were performed for the initial verification.

What is Power Line Carrier and how is it useful for sub-metering?

Quadlogic (PLC) uses existing building wiring for data communications between the unit meter and the building central station microprocess or/computer. PLC eliminates the need for expensive building rewiring and addresses aesthetic concerns as well.

How do I obtain more information about the Quadlogic sub-metering products?

For more information contact 905-825-6347.