EN-POWER GROUP was featured in Habitat Magazine for its expertise in residential electric submetering and how accurate, unit-level billing can lead to meaningful reductions in energy use in multifamily buildings.

Context: Why Submetering Changes Behavior

In master-metered residential buildings, residents are often insulated from the true cost of their electricity use. Without direct feedback, there is little incentive to adjust behavior or invest in efficiency improvements.

Submetering introduces transparency by measuring electricity consumption at the apartment level, allowing residents to see exactly how their usage translates into monthly costs.

EN-POWER GROUP’s Role

In the article, Thomas Morrisson, Director of Energy Management at EN-POWER GROUP, explained that once residents begin receiving accurate electric bills, behavior often changes quickly.

According to Morrisson, EN-POWER GROUP typically sees 20 to 25 percent reductions in electrical usage following a submeter conversion, driven largely by increased awareness and accountability.

Beyond system design and installation considerations, EN-POWER GROUP also addressed the practical challenges of implementing submetering in occupied residential buildings, including resident communication and education.

Results: Education as a Critical Part of Implementation

Following meter installation, building boards often receive a surge of questions from residents about how electricity is measured and billed. Topics commonly include understanding kilowatt-hours, reading meters, and interpreting utility bills.

To support a smooth transition, EN-POWER GROUP conducted educational sessions to explain how billing works and what factors influence electrical consumption. These discussions covered both simple behavior changes, such as switching from incandescent bulbs to LEDs, and larger upgrades that can further reduce usage.

This combination of technical implementation and resident education helped ensure long-term success and acceptance of the submetering program.

Why This Matters for Co-op and Condo Boards

This feature highlights that submetering is not just a technical upgrade. When paired with clear communication and education, it can become a powerful tool for reducing building-wide energy consumption, encouraging more efficient resident behavior, and improving overall cost control.

Media Attribution

This topic was originally featured in Habitat Magazine in June 2019.
[Read the full article on Habitat Magazine →]

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