Lee B. in Rochester NY. I've got a client who's a tenant in a multi-tenant office building where the landlord sub-meters each suite. Tenant's electric bills from landlord are running $3,200/month but when I calculated their proportional share of the master RG&E bill, should be closer to $1,800. Landlord claims each suite has 200:5 CTs with multiplier of 40, but the math doesn't work out. Anyone know what rights tenants have to verify sub-meter accuracy in New York?
Sub-Metering Error in Multi-Tenant Building - Landlord Overcharging
Tina B. from Grand Rapids. Michigan has specific laws about sub-metering accuracy requirements but not sure about New York. Generally tenants can request calibration verification of sub-meters, but landlord might push back. Have you actually seen the sub-meter and CT installation, or are you just working from the landlord's billing statements?
Tina, I was able to inspect the sub-meter last week. The CTs are definitely 200:5 but the digital meter shows a multiplier of 50, not 40. That's a 25% overcharge right there. Also found that the landlord is billing tenants for power factor penalties that should only apply to the master meter. Working with tenant's attorney now to get this corrected.
Lee, Randy Dawson here. New York Public Service Law Section 53 requires sub-meters to be accurate within 2% and properly calibrated. If the multiplier is wrong, that's a clear violation. The power factor penalty passthrough is also questionable unless specifically addressed in the lease agreement. Document everything and consider filing a complaint with the PSC if the landlord won't cooperate. Also check if other tenants in the building are having similar issues - this could be systematic overcharging.
Randy, great advice as always. Talked to three other tenants and they're all seeing similar discrepancies. Landlord agreed to have all sub-meters recalibrated and will provide credits for the past 12 months. Looks like the building management company was either incompetent or deliberately overcharging tenants. Thanks for the PSC reference - that gave us the leverage we needed.