In October 2012, the New York State Public Service Commission adopted changes to its electric residential submetering rules (Case 11-M-0710).

The rules, last revised in 1988, have been updated to reflect changes in Commission policy, changing energy market, new technologies to promote energy efficiency, and additional consumer protections.

To learn more about the new submetering regulations, you may go to the New York State Public Service Commission’s website at this link - http://www.dps.ny.gov/Submetering.html

The submetering rules govern residential electric submetering – a metering system that allows rental landlords, condominium and cooperative organizations, management groups or other owners of multi-unit dwellings to bill residents for individual measured electric service.

The Commission has endorsed metering of individual dwelling units as a means to reduce energy use and to promote energy efficiency throughout the state. Residents who live in multi-unit dwellings that are master metered are billed on an average electric charge. As a result, residents using relatively small amounts of electricity could pay more for electricity while subsidizing residents at the same location who are using more electricity on a monthly basis.

The metering of individual dwelling units enables consumers to pay bills based on their own actual electricity usage and provides incentives to lower monthly costs if they choose to change their living patterns to reduce energy consumption. Installation of submetering in multi-dwelling units provides an opportunity for consumers to save in energy costs and contributes to the state’s efforts to promote energy efficiency.

For more information on the submetering process for Consumers, click here.

For more information on the submetering process for Industry Representatives/Submeterers, click here.