Utility Billing Services for Affordable Housing Providers

Reduce Utility Expenses and Encourage Conservation

AmCoBi works with Housing Authorities (HAs) and other HUD-subsidized multifamily property owners to help them leverage the financial and conservation benefits of utility billing. We support affordable housing providers trying to:

Reduce utility consumption
Incent responsible utility use behaviors
Lower utility expenses
Save money!

The Master-Metered Utility Opportunity

Many affordable multifamily housing complexes are "master-metered." This means that there is a single utility meter--water, gas and/or electricity--measuring usage for multiple residences. In master-metered properties there is no way to determine utility consumption on a per-unit basis. Utility expenses, therefore, are included in the contract rent.

Master-Metered Complexes Offer no Incentive to Conserve

The drawback of a master-metered property is that there is no real incentive for residents to conserve utilities. Those tenants who do use utilities responsibly, receive no financial benefit for their efforts. In fact, responsible energy users actually pay more for those who do not conserve.

If residents use more energy than what is covered by the utility allowance, the affordable housing owner picks up the tab. Without a means to measure consumption, it's nearly impossible to determine if the utility allowance adequately covers each resident's utility expense.

Many affordable housing projects that accept Section 8 vouchers, or are financed with tax credits, cannot use RUBS. Submetering is the best alternative to encourage all parties to participate in conservation.

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Submetering is the Fairest Option

Multifamily complexes that are "individually-metered" or "submetered" can accurately measure each resident's utility usage. This means that residents are only charged for the utilities they use. In a submetered complex, residents have more control of their total housing costs. Submetering also produces data that can be analyzed to determine if there are problems with heating/cooling systems, appliances, toilets, etc.

Submetering can Reduce Consumption by 15-35%

In conventional housing, when an owner transitions a property from being master-metered to individually-metered, tenants become financially responsible for the energy they use. In these cases, it's common to see a reduction in energy usage of 15-35%. These are substantial savings for owners and tenants.


		Submetering a multifamily public or affordable housing complex can have a bigger impact on reducing utility costs than any other energy efficiency investment available

Housing Authorities and HUD-financed property owners looking for practical, affordable, and measurable ways to reduce utility consumption and save money, should submeter their properties. Submetering can have the single most significant impact on reducing utility costs in comparison to any other utility efficiency investment available. Submetering also provides a means to measure the effectiveness of other efficiency investments you make.

The AmCoBi Solution

AmCoBi offers utility billing services to Housing Authorities and HUD-subsidized multifamily property owners who have submetered utilities. We provide: