NY-91-01-3 — Metering and Allocation of Gas Costs for Apartments — A Case Study

This study is the result of an eight-year analysis of changes resulting from converting a 204-unit apartment complex from a billing system that included gas costs in the rent to individual payment of these costs by the residents. This conversion involved the installation of a Btu metering and allocation system at an apartment complex in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Occupancy, gas consumption, and cost-to-tenant comparisons were made for the period immediately prior to the conversion (June 1982 to June 1983) and for every 12-month period thereafter. The results of this case study indicate an increase in occupancy from 92% to 99%, an average annual decrease in heating-season gas consumption of 2% from the base period, and an average annual decrease in summer-season gas consumption of 13%. All consumption comparisons were adjusted for both heating degree-days and fluctuations in billing period.

KEYWORDS: meters, gas consumption, summer, winter, flats, USA, case studies, tenants, comparing, history, converting, degree days, energy consumption, heat meters