Authoritative Guide on Utility Meters, Their Types and Their Role in Energy & GHG Monitoring
Introduction
Utility meters are the foundation of modern energy management, cost allocation and sustainability efforts. Whether used in commercial buildings, multi-residential properties or industrial facilities, accurate metering is essential for optimizing utility use, preventing waste and ensuring regulatory compliance. As energy costs rise and GHG emissions regulations tighten, businesses increasingly rely on submetering solutions, smart metering systems, and energy analytics to improve efficiency and financial performance.
Smart meters—covering electricity, water, thermal, gas and steam metering—provide real-time consumption insights, automated data reporting and remote monitoring capabilities. Transitioning from manual readings to IoT-enabled solutions empowers property owners to improve accuracy, recover costs and meet ESG reporting standards.
Who This Guide is For
This guide is designed for decision-makers responsible for utility management, cost allocation and energy optimization, including:
Property Managers & Building Owners – Accurately bill tenants and reduce operational costs.
Multi-Residential Developers – Implement submetering to shift costs from property owners to tenants.
Industrial & Institutional Facility Managers – Monitor energy-intensive systems for efficiency.
Engineers & Energy Consultants – Specify meters for LEED, Passive House and net-zero projects.
What You’ll Learn
This guide covers the five major types of utility meters, with their own detailed sections available for further reading on this page. Jump to each section by clicking the links below:
Jump to Electricity Meters Section – How they track power consumption for billing, energy management and load control. Read our complete electricity metering guide.
Water Meters – How smart water meters reduce non-revenue water loss and improve sustainability.
Jump to Thermal Meters Section – How heat meters optimize HVAC and district energy systems. Read our complete thermal metering guide.
Gas Meters – How gas meters ensure cost accuracy and support GHG tracking.
Steam Meters – How steam meters improve efficiency in heating and industrial processes.
Each section explains how the meter works, who uses it and why it matters so you can make the best decision for your property or facility.
Utility Meter Categories
Interested in viewing QMC’s offering of hardware right away? Choose a meter type below to view our product offering:
🔗 Electricity Meters
🔗 Water Meters
🔗 Thermal Meters
🔗 Gas Meters
🔗 Steam Meters
Need expert advice? Contact QMC now!
Electricity Meters: How They Work and Why They Matter
Electricity meters are essential for tracking power consumption, optimizing energy use and ensuring accurate cost allocation in commercial, multi-residential and industrial buildings. These meters provide real-time insights into energy demand, helping businesses reduce operating costs and comply with regulations such as Measurement Canada (MC) approvals, ANSI C12.20, ASHRAE 90.1 and ESG reporting requirements.
With advancements in IoT, smart grid technology and wireless connectivity, modern electricity meters now offer remote monitoring, automated data collection and data-driven analytics, transforming how property owners and energy managers handle billing, energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives.
Who Uses Electricity Meters?
- Commercial Property Owners & Managers – Ensure accurate tenant billing and submeter energy use in office buildings, retail centers and mixed-use developments.
- Multi-Residential Developers – Implement suite-level submetering to fairly allocate electricity costs to residents.
- Industrial & Manufacturing Facilities – Track high-energy-consuming equipment and optimize load management.
- Energy Consultants & Engineers – Specify meters in LEED, Passive House and net-zero building projects.
Revenue Metering vs. Check Metering: Understanding the Difference
Electricity meters can be categorized into two primary types:
Revenue Meters (Billing-Grade Meters)
These meters are best for: Commercial and multi-residential properties that require accurate, legally compliant billing for tenants. Revenue meters are certified to regulatory standards and ensure that electricity costs are allocated fairly based on actual usage.
- Measurement Canada (MC) & ANSI C12.20 Certified – Ensures high accuracy (±0.2%) for billing compliance.
- Legal for Cost Allocation – Required for commercial property billing, tenant submetering and utility revenue tracking.
- Tamper-Proof & Secure – Prevents manipulation to protect both landlords and tenants.
- Integration with Billing Software – Allows automated reporting and direct utility cost pass-through.
Check Meters (Internal Monitoring & Benchmarking)
Check meters are best for: Property managers, energy consultants and facility operators who need non-billing energy insights. Check meters provide internal data on energy usage, allowing businesses to track trends, optimize efficiency and verify energy bills—but they cannot legally be used for billing tenants.
- Used for Benchmarking & Load Management – Helps track energy patterns in HVAC systems, lighting and high-energy equipment.
- Supports Energy Efficiency Programs – Provides granular insights into where energy savings can be achieved.
- Validates Utility Billing Accuracy – Helps companies cross-check utility bills to prevent overcharges.
- Not Revenue-Grade Certified – Cannot be used for tenant billing or direct cost allocation.
Why Understanding Metering Types Matter
1. Avoid Compliance Risks & Tenant Disputes
Using a check meter instead of a revenue-grade meter for billing can cause legal issues and disputes. Property managers must ensure they install Measurement Canada or ANSI-certified meters for accurate cost allocation.
2. Optimize Energy Use Without Changing Billing Structure
Companies that want to monitor energy usage for efficiency improvements and sustainability goals but don’t need legal-grade billing can leverage check meters for deeper data insights.
3. Enhance Sustainability & ESG Compliance
Electricity metering plays a key role in GHG emissions tracking, ISO 50001 energy audits and LEED certification efforts. Advanced meters allow companies to reduce energy waste and achieve sustainability targets.
Choosing the Right Electricity Meter for Your Needs
When selecting an electricity meter, consider:
- Do you need a revenue-grade meter for tenant billing? – If so, choose a Measurement Canada or ANSI-certified revenue meter.
- Are you tracking energy for efficiency purposes? – A check meter is sufficient for internal monitoring.
- Do you need IoT capabilities? – Smart meters with LoRaWAN, cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity enable real-time data insights.
- Does your facility require scalability? – Ensure your metering system allows for future expansion.
- Consult with QMC Experts to Find the Best Solution
Understanding the difference between revenue meters and check meters is crucial for ensuring fair billing, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Whether for cost allocation, energy benchmarking or grid optimization, having the right electricity metering solution can drive financial savings and sustainability improvements.
Electricity Meters: Types, Uses and How They Work
Water Meters: Accurate Measurement for Cost Allocation & Sustainability
Water meters are essential for tracking water consumption, ensuring fair cost allocation and improving water efficiency in commercial, multi-residential and industrial properties. With growing concerns over water conservation, regulatory compliance and operational costs, modern metering solutions provide real-time monitoring, leak detection and automated data reporting to help property owners and facility managers optimize water use.
Advancements in smart metering, wireless data transmission and IoT connectivity—such as LoRaWAN and cellular-enabled water meters—have transformed how buildings manage water usage, making it easier to track consumption across multiple tenants and properties.
Who Uses Water Meters?
- Multi-Residential Developers & Property Managers – Submetering allows property owners to accurately bill tenants based on individual consumption instead of flat-rate billing.
- Commercial Property Owners & Operators – Water meters help track usage in offices, retail spaces and mixed-use buildings, ensuring fair cost allocation and leak detection.
- Industrial & Institutional Facilities – Factories, hospitals and universities use water meters to monitor high-volume water consumption, detect inefficiencies and reduce operational costs.
- Municipal Water Utilities & Districts – Large-scale water metering supports city-wide conservation efforts, billing accuracy and infrastructure planning.
Choosing the Right Water Meter Based on Pipe Size & Application
The right water meter depends on pipe size, property type and industry requirements. Selecting the correct meter ensures accurate measurement, cost recovery and operational efficiency for buildings of all sizes.
Small to Mid-Sized Pipes (Up to 2″) – Multi-Residential & Commercial Buildings
For apartments, condominiums, office buildings and retail spaces, compact water meters provide precise submetering for tenant billing and water management. The GWF Unico series is ideal for these applications, offering high accuracy in smaller-diameter pipes commonly found in residential and light commercial properties. With a compact design, these meters are easy to install and integrate seamlessly into multi-residential and commercial submetering systems.
Learn More: Water Meters for Multi-Residential & Commercial Properties
Large Pipes (2″ and Above) – Industrial & Institutional Facilities
Factories, hospitals and large-scale commercial buildings require high-capacity water meters to handle large flow rates while maintaining accuracy. The GWF Unico MT series is designed for industrial and institutional applications, ensuring precise water measurement across high-demand systems. These meters also help reduce non-revenue water loss by detecting abnormal consumption patterns, making them essential for large-scale distribution networks and industrial operations.
Learn More: Industrial Water Metering Solutions
Wired vs. Wireless Water Metering: Which One is Best?
Choosing between wired and wireless water metering depends on building infrastructure, scalability needs and installation complexity. Each option has its own advantages and limitations, making it important to select the best fit for your property.
Wired water meters are best suited for buildings with an existing wired metering infrastructure. They offer greater stability and reliability compared to wireless solutions, making them ideal for properties with a central metering panel where long-term accuracy and dependability are key. However, installation costs can be higher due to wiring complexity, and wired systems may be less scalable for buildings that expand or require metering across multiple locations.
Wireless water meters, on the other hand, are the preferred choice for multi-building properties, mobile home parks and large campuses where remote data collection is essential. These meters provide easier installation without the need for extensive wiring, making them scalable across multiple locations. Wireless solutions also integrate seamlessly with IoT-based monitoring systems, allowing for real-time consumption tracking. However, wireless metering depends on network coverage and signal strength, and most wireless meters are battery-powered, requiring periodic replacements.
In summary:
Wired Water Meters are best for properties with an existing wired metering infrastructure.
- Benefits
- More stable and reliable than wireless solutions.
- Ideal for buildings with a central metering panel.
- Limitations
- Higher installation costs due to wiring complexity.
- Less scalable for distributed networks.
Wireless Water Meters are best for multi-building properties, mobile home parks and large campuses needing remote data collection.
- Benefits
- Easier installation with no need for extensive wiring.
- Scalable across multiple locations.
- Compatible with IoT-based monitoring systems.
- Limitations
- Dependent on network coverage and signal strength.
- Requires battery-powered meters, leading to periodic replacements.
Learn More: Wired vs. Wireless Water Meters
LoRaWAN for Water Metering: The Future of Remote Monitoring
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is quickly becoming the go-to wireless communication protocol for modern water metering systems, especially in multi-residential, industrial and large-scale commercial properties. It enables meters to transmit usage data over long distances using minimal power — making it a perfect fit for utility-grade deployments.
At its core, LoRaWAN allows water meters to communicate wirelessly with gateways and data platforms like MeterConnex, eliminating the need for trenching, cabling or manual reads. It’s an essential technology for property owners and facility managers who want scalable, cost-effective, and future-ready metering solutions.
Why Use LoRaWAN for Water Metering?
- Ideal for Multi-Property Owners & Industrial Sites – Works across multiple buildings, mobile home parks and campus-wide networks, reducing operational costs & manual readings.
- Real-Time Leak Detection & Water Conservation – Prevents water waste & reduces non-revenue water loss—unaccounted-for water that costs property managers & municipalities millions annually.
- Battery Life of Up to 15 Years – Low maintenance & cost-effective for long-term monitoring.
- Long-Range Coverage – Works across large campuses, mobile home parks and multi-building properties.
- Remote Monitoring – Eliminates manual meter readings, improving efficiency and accuracy.
- Deep Penetration Indoors – Works in basements, underground pipelines and multi-story buildings.
Discover the best LoRaWAN Water Metering Solutions
Key Benefits of Smart Water Meters
Smart water meters provide much more than consumption data — they deliver actionable insights, automation, and long-term value across a range of building types and use cases. Whether you’re managing a multi-residential property, a campus, or an industrial facility, these advanced meters help you operate more efficiently, recover costs accurately, and meet today’s rising compliance standards.
Cost Allocation & Fair Billing
One of the most important advantages of smart water meters is the ability to bill tenants, departments or building zones based on actual usage rather than flat-rate estimates. This enables precision billing that improves transparency and reduces tenant disputes, utility cost recovery by shifting variable usage to those responsible, support for net operating income (NOI) strategies in rental portfolios and simplified integration with billing software or third-party providers. In multi-residential and mixed-use buildings, submetering each suite or shared space can lead to significantly lower utility expenses for property owners.
Leak Detection & Water Conservation
Smart meters equipped with real-time monitoring and alerts allow property managers and maintenance teams to detect leaks early before they cause structural or financial damage, identify unusual usage spikes or continuous flow patterns, reduce non-revenue water (NRW), which accounts for millions in wasted costs annually and monitor outdoor irrigation, cooling towers or mechanical systems for excessive water use. This supports green building certifications, internal ESG goals, and helps comply with water efficiency mandates in regulated regions.
Remote Data Access & Automation
Smart meters eliminate the need for manual reads by transmitting usage data automatically via LoRaWAN, LTE or other IoT protocols. This enables real-time visibility into water use across entire buildings or portfolios, centralized monitoring through platforms like MeterConnex, instant data exports for benchmarking, billing or regulatory compliance and reduction in labor costs and human error from manual data collection. This level of automation is essential for distributed properties, mobile home parks, or multi-building campuses where manual reads are impractical.
Compliance with Regulatory Standards
All smart water meters offered by QMC are certified to meet or exceed regional requirements for legal-for-trade billing and health safety, including Measurement Canada (MC), California Weights and Measures and NSF-61 for safe drinking water system components. These certifications ensure your metering solution is fully compliant for tenant billing, municipal integration, and utility audits, helping avoid fines or retrofits down the line.
Choosing the Right Water Meter for Your Needs
When selecting a water meter, consider:
- Pipe Size & Flow Rate – Smaller buildings need compact water meters, while industrial properties require high-flow capacity meters.
- Billing vs. Monitoring – Do you need a revenue-grade meter for billing or a monitoring meter for conservation & tracking?
- Wired vs. Wireless – Do you have existing wiring infrastructure, or would LoRaWAN or cellular be a better fit?
- Scalability & Future-Proofing – Will your metering system need to expand over time?
Water meters are essential for accurately tracking consumption and ensuring fair cost allocation in commercial, multi-family and industrial properties. Certified for billing purposes, they comply with Measurement Canada (MC), California Weights and Measures and NSF-61 requirements to provide legally verifiable usage data. Advanced smart water meters offer real-time monitoring, automated data collection and IoT integration, helping property managers and facility operators detect leaks, reduce non-revenue water loss and optimize water efficiency.
Explore Our Detailed Guide on Water Meters:
💡 Looking for a custom metering solution? Contact QMC Today!
Thermal Meters: Monitoring Heat Energy for Cost Allocation & Efficiency
Thermal meters play a crucial role in heating, cooling and district energy systems, ensuring accurate cost allocation and regulatory compliance in commercial, institutional and industrial properties. These meters measure heat energy transfer in hydronic loops and district heating/cooling systems, helping property managers and facility operators track consumption, prevent energy waste and comply with provincial safety standards.
In Canada, hydronic systems operating at high temperatures (above 50°C) and pressures exceeding 140-150 psi are regulated under the Canadian Registration Number (CRN) system. Any meter installed in these systems must have a CRN designation, or local authorities can demand removal of non-compliant equipment.
QMC is the Only Provider of CRN-Approved Thermal Meters for Large Projects
Unlike other metering options, QMC offers the only CRN-approved thermal meters suitable for large institutional and industrial applications. Our metering solutions ensure compliance with provincial safety authorities, preventing costly shutdowns and regulatory issues.
Who Uses Thermal Meters?
- Multi-Residential Developers & Property Managers – Accurately allocate heating and cooling costs to tenants based on actual usage.
- Commercial Property Owners & Operators – Ensure fair cost distribution for HVAC systems in office buildings, hotels and mixed-use developments.
- Industrial & Institutional Facilities – Track thermal energy use in manufacturing, hospitals and process heating applications.
- District Energy & Utility Providers – Optimize large-scale heating and cooling networks for efficiency and cost savings.
Choosing the Right Thermal Meter Based on Application & Scale
Thermal meters vary based on property type, pipe size and system complexity. Selecting the right meter ensures precise measurement and system compatibility.
Small to Mid-Sized Applications – Multi-Residential & Commercial Buildings
For apartments, condominiums, office buildings and hotels, compact thermal meters provide accurate energy tracking for heating and cooling systems. The GWF Ultramaxx Integral-V and Engelmann SensoStar U are ideal for these applications, offering high-precision measurement in smaller heating and cooling loops. These meters support cost allocation for tenants and ensure fair billing based on actual energy use.
Large-Scale Applications – Industrial & District Energy Systems
Industrial facilities, hospitals and district energy networks require high-capacity, CRN-approved thermal meters to handle high-pressure heat energy distribution. The GWF SuperStatic 440 is the only CRN-certified thermal meter available in Canada, making it the go-to solution for regulatory-compliant installations. These meters help track energy transfer, improve efficiency and reduce waste in complex thermal energy networks.
Wired vs. Wireless Thermal Metering: Which One is Best?
Wired Thermal Meters
Wired thermal meters are ideal for properties with an existing wired metering infrastructure or central monitoring systems. These meters provide a stable and reliable connection, making them well-suited for fixed HVAC and district energy systems where uninterrupted data transmission is essential. However, the installation process can be costly and complex due to the need for extensive wiring, and expanding the network in the future may require additional infrastructure investments.
- Best for:
- Fixed HVAC systems, district heating & cooling and properties with centralized metering panels.
- Provides consistent, interference-free data transmission, making it ideal for regulated cost allocation.
- Limitations:
- Higher installation costs & not easily expandable
Wireless Thermal Meters
Wireless thermal meters offer greater flexibility and scalability, making them a preferred choice for buildings that require remote data access and multi-site energy tracking. With easier installation and no need for extensive wiring, they are well-suited for multi-building or campus-wide networks. Additionally, wireless meters integrate seamlessly with IoT-based energy management systems, enabling real-time monitoring and automated reporting. However, these meters rely on network signal strength, which can impact data accuracy in areas with poor connectivity. Since most wireless meters are battery-powered, periodic maintenance and battery replacements are necessary to ensure consistent operation.
- Best for:
- Multi-property owners, campus-wide networks and district energy providers needing remote access.
- Enables scalable, IoT-driven monitoring with lower infrastructure investment.
- Limitations:
- Dependent on signal strength, and battery-powered meters require periodic maintenance.
Get the Best Thermal Meter for Your HVAC System
Key Benefits of Smart Thermal Meters
- Accurate Cost Allocation & Billing
- Helps property owners fairly distribute heating and cooling costs based on actual usage.
- Reduces disputes and improves tenant transparency.
- Energy Optimization & Efficiency
- Tracks heat energy flow to detect inefficiencies and system imbalances.
- Improves HVAC system performance in commercial and multi-residential buildings.
- Remote Monitoring & Automated Data Collection
- IoT-enabled thermal meters provide real-time insights into heating and cooling consumption.
- Eliminates manual readings, improving efficiency and data accuracy.
- Compliance with Industry Standards
- Meets industry requirements such as MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) Class 2 and EN 1434 for legal and regulatory compliance.
Choosing the Right Thermal Meter for Your Needs
When selecting a thermal meter, consider:
- Application & Scale – Smaller buildings require compact meters, while district energy systems need high-capacity solutions.
- Billing vs. Monitoring – Choose a certified meter for cost allocation or a monitoring meter for system optimization.
- Wired vs. Wireless – Wired meters are reliable for fixed infrastructure, while wireless meters provide scalability and remote access.
- Integration & IoT Capabilities – Ensure the meter can connect with energy management systems for real-time insights and automation.
Thermal meters are essential for accurately measuring heat energy consumption and ensuring fair cost allocation in commercial, multi-residential and industrial properties. Certified for billing and energy management, they comply with industry standards such as MID (Measuring Instruments Directive) Class 2 and EN 1434 for legally verifiable usage data. Advanced thermal meters, such as the GWF Ultramaxx Integral-V, Engelmann SensoStar U and GWF SuperStatic 440, offer real-time monitoring, automated data collection and IoT integration. These solutions help property managers and facility operators optimize heating and cooling efficiency, reduce energy waste and enhance system performance.
Read our complete guide: Thermal Meters: Measuring Heat Energy for Efficiency
Gas Meters: Accurate Measurement for Industrial & Residential Use
Gas meters are essential for accurately tracking natural gas consumption, ensuring cost allocation, and optimizing energy efficiency in commercial, multi-residential and industrial properties. These meters measure gas flow and usage to support billing, energy management and sustainability initiatives.
With rising energy costs and increasing focus on GHG emissions reduction, modern gas meters provide real-time monitoring, automated reporting and IoT integration, helping businesses track fuel consumption and carbon output more effectively.
Who Uses Gas Meters?
- Commercial Property Owners & Multi-Residential Developers – Ensure accurate tenant billing and cost recovery for gas heating systems.
- Industrial & Manufacturing Facilities – Monitor high-consumption gas equipment and optimize fuel efficiency.
- District Energy & Utility Providers – Support large-scale gas distribution networks and ensure accurate metering for cost allocation.
- GHG & Sustainability Teams – Track natural gas emissions to comply with ESG reporting and carbon reduction goals.
Types of Gas Meters & Their Applications
Selecting the right gas meter depends on property size, gas usage levels and application requirements.
Diaphragm Gas Meters – Residential & Light Commercial Applications
Diaphragm meters are the most common gas meters for small-scale applications, including multi-residential buildings, small commercial properties and retail spaces. They operate by measuring gas flow through flexible chambers, ensuring consistent and accurate readings for tenant billing and energy management.
Learn More: Diaphragm Gas Meters
Turbine Gas Meters – Large Commercial & Industrial Facilities
For high-flow gas usage, such as factories, refineries and large-scale heating systems, turbine gas meters provide exceptional accuracy and durability. These meters measure gas velocity using rotating blades, making them ideal for applications with consistent and high-volume gas consumption.
Learn More: Turbine Gas Meters
Ultrasonic Gas Meters – High-Accuracy & Large-Scale Monitoring
Ultrasonic meters are non-intrusive, highly accurate and maintenance-free, making them perfect for large industrial facilities, district energy systems and emissions monitoring. These meters use sound waves to measure gas flow, eliminating the need for moving parts and reducing wear and tear.
Learn More: Ultrasonic Gas Meters
Wired vs. Wireless Gas Metering: Which One is Best?
Wired Gas Meters
Wired gas meters provide stable and uninterrupted data transmission, making them ideal for buildings with a centralized metering system. They offer greater accuracy and reliability but require higher installation costs due to the need for physical wiring.
Wireless Gas Meters
Wireless gas meters are gaining traction due to their flexibility, remote monitoring capabilities and ability to integrate with pulse-based submetering systems. These meters are especially useful for multi-residential buildings, commercial properties and industrial sites where existing pulse output meters need to be converted into a wireless system.
One of the key innovations in wireless gas metering utilizes Truety’s Pulse Collector, which allows property managers and facility operators to retrofit existing gas, water and other pulse-based output devices with LoRaWAN-enabled wireless transmission. This device captures pulse output data from traditional meters and transmits it wirelessly over long distances (up to 10km with unobstructed line of sight).
- Why Use Pulse Collection for Wireless Gas Metering?
- Enables Existing Infrastructure to Become Wireless – Converts legacy pulse-based meters into a smart, remotely monitored system without replacing hardware.
- Seamless Integration with LoRaWAN Networks – Ensures long-range, low-power data transmission, perfect for distributed properties and industrial facilities.
- 10-Year Battery Life – Requires minimal maintenance, making it cost-effective for long-term operation.
- IP67-Rated for Harsh Environments – Designed to withstand extreme temperatures and humidity, making it ideal for outdoor gas metering applications.
- Storage of Over 2,200 Historical Records – Prevents data loss and enables reliable reporting for billing and energy management.
By leveraging wireless gas meters and pulse collectors, businesses can reduce installation costs, improve energy tracking and enable remote monitoring for enhanced billing accuracy and operational efficiency.
Upgrade to Wireless Gas Metering with Pulse Collection
How Gas Meters Support GHG Emissions Tracking & Sustainability
Gas meters are essential for monitoring natural gas consumption and tracking green house gas (GHG) emissions, helping businesses meet ESG targets, carbon regulations and sustainability goals. By integrating smart gas meters and pulse collectors, companies can retrofit existing infrastructure for real-time monitoring and accurate reporting, ensuring compliance with frameworks like ISO 50001 and ASHRAE 90.1. Wireless gas meters further enhance carbon footprint analysis by enabling remote tracking across multiple locations. Investing in advanced gas metering solutions helps businesses optimize fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and improve sustainability efforts. Gas metering supports GHG emissions tracking by:
- Accurate Fuel Consumption Monitoring
- Helps businesses track exact natural gas usage, preventing waste and reducing costs.
- Provides data to optimize heating efficiency in commercial and industrial settings.
- GHG Emissions Reporting & Carbon Reduction
- Essential for ESG compliance and corporate sustainability goals.
- Helps organizations measure carbon footprint from gas consumption and implement energy-saving initiatives.
- Compliance with Energy Regulations
- Supports GHG reporting frameworks such as ISO 50001 and ASHRAE 90.1.
- Meets Measurement Canada and ANSI B109.1/B109.2 standards for billing accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Choosing the Right Gas Meter for Your Needs
- Property Type & Gas Usage – Small buildings need diaphragm meters, while large industrial sites require turbine or ultrasonic meters.
- Billing vs. Monitoring – Revenue-grade meters ensure legal billing, while check meters track energy efficiency and performance.
- Wired vs. Wireless Connectivity – Wired meters offer reliability, while wireless meters provide scalability and remote access.
- GHG Tracking Capabilities – For sustainability goals, choose meters that integrate with carbon tracking platforms.
Gas meters are essential for accurately measuring natural gas consumption and ensuring fair cost allocation in commercial, multi-residential and industrial properties. Certified for billing and energy management, they comply with industry standards such as Measurement Canada (MC) and ANSI B109.1/B109.2 for legally verifiable usage data. Advanced gas meters, including diaphragm, turbine and ultrasonic models, offer real-time monitoring, automated data collection and IoT integration. By accurately tracking natural gas usage, these meters also support GHG emissions monitoring, helping property managers, facility operators and energy providers measure carbon output, optimize efficiency and work toward sustainability targets.
Gas Meters: A Complete Guide to Accurate Gas Measurement
Steam Meters: Optimizing Steam Flow for Efficiency and Cost Allocation
Steam meters are essential for tracking steam consumption, ensuring fair cost allocation, and optimizing energy efficiency in commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. These meters measure steam flow and energy transfer, allowing property managers, facility operators and engineers to improve system performance, reduce waste and enhance sustainability efforts.
With the rising costs of energy and increasing focus on sustainability, accurate steam metering helps businesses identify inefficiencies, optimize heating and process steam distribution and lower operational expenses.
Who Uses Steam Meters?
- Commercial & Institutional Facilities – Used in hospitals, universities and high-rise buildings to measure steam heating and distribution for cost allocation.
- Industrial & Manufacturing Plants – Tracks steam usage in process heating, refineries, food production and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- District Energy Providers – Supports centralized steam distribution networks, ensuring accurate metering for billing and efficiency improvements.
- Energy & Sustainability Managers – Helps organizations monitor steam consumption, reduce energy waste and meet sustainability goals.
QMC’s Steam Flow Meters: High-Performance Solutions for Commercial & Industrial Applications
Selecting the right steam meter depends on system pressure, flow rate and measurement accuracy requirements. QMC offers:
- Vortex Steam Flow Meters – High-accuracy, low-maintenance solution for medium to high-pressure steam applications.
- Metal Rotameter Steam Flow Meters – Ideal for industrial & process steam measurement, offering reliable flow indication.
- Orifice Plate Steam Flow Meters – Cost-effective solution for basic steam flow measurement in boiler systems & district energy networks.
- Turbine Steam Flow Meters – Precision steam metering for large-scale heating & industrial applications.
Why Smart Steam Metering Matters
- Cost Allocation & Billing Accuracy
- Ensures fair cost distribution for steam heating and industrial processes.
- Helps property managers recover utility costs from tenants and facility users.
- Process Optimization & Energy Efficiency
- Identifies steam leaks, system inefficiencies and excessive energy use.
- Reduces steam waste in industrial heating, sterilization and manufacturing.
- Remote Monitoring & IoT Integration
- Enables real-time tracking of steam consumption for better control.
- Supports automated energy reporting and predictive maintenance.
- Compliance with Energy Regulations
- Meets industry standards such as ISO 50001, ASHRAE 90.1 and local energy efficiency mandates.
Choosing the Right Steam Meter for Your Needs
- System Size & Flow Rate – Low-flow systems and large-scale steam distribution requires different types of steam meters.
- Billing vs. Monitoring – Revenue-grade meters ensure legal billing, while check meters help track process efficiency.
- Wired vs. Wireless Connectivity – Wired meters are reliable for centralized monitoring, while wireless meters provide scalability and remote tracking.
- Integration with Energy Management Systems – Select meters that seamlessly connect with smart monitoring platforms for real-time insights and automation.
Steam meters are essential for accurately measuring steam flow and energy use, ensuring fair cost allocation and improved efficiency in commercial, industrial and institutional properties. Some steam meters are certified for both billing and energy management, complying with industry standards for reliable and verifiable measurement. Advanced steam meters, including vortex, metal rotatmeter, orifice plate and turbine steam flow meters offer real-time monitoring, automated data collection and IoT integration. These solutions help energy managers, facility and industrial managers track steam consumption, reduce waste and optimize heating and process efficiency.
Steam Meters: Optimizing Steam Flow for Efficiency
How to Choose the Right Utility Meter for Your Needs
When selecting a meter, consider:
- What do you need to measure? (Electricity, water, heat, gas, steam)
- Accuracy & Compliance Requirements – Ensure meters meet industry standards.
- Data & Connectivity Needs – Do you need real-time tracking & IoT integration?
- Regulatory Compliance – Energy metering plays a role in GHG tracking & sustainability reporting.
Need expert advice? Contact us for a consultation on the best metering solution for your needs!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between metering and submetering?
Metering refers to the primary utility meter that tracks total consumption for a building or facility. This is usually installed by the utility provider and used for billing the entire property.
Submetering, on the other hand, breaks down consumption within the building — measuring specific suites, tenants, departments, or equipment. Submeters are installed after the main utility meter and help allocate costs, identify inefficiencies, and enable granular energy or water tracking.
Can utility meters help with ESG or GHG reporting?
Absolutely. Utility meters (especially gas, thermal, and electricity meters) are critical for tracking energy use intensity (EUI) and supporting carbon emissions reporting. When paired with platforms like MeterConnex, your meter data can be exported directly to frameworks like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager or RetScreen, simplifying compliance with ESG, LEED, and net-zero mandates.
How often do utility meters need to be calibrated or replaced?
It depends on the type and application. Revenue-grade meters must meet specific accuracy standards (e.g., Measurement Canada or ANSI C12.20) and are often recertified or replaced every 6–10 years. Smart meters typically require less frequent calibration, and many wireless models last up to 10+ years with low maintenance.
Do I need a different meter for each utility?
Yes. Electricity, water, gas, thermal, and steam all require different types of meters, designed to measure specific forms of energy or flow. However, platforms like MeterConnex can bring all of that data together in one dashboard for unified monitoring and reporting.
Is submetering allowed for tenant billing?
Yes — as long as the meters are revenue-grade and certified for billing purposes. In Canada, this means approval by Measurement Canada. In the U.S., meters must comply with state-level utility and Weights & Measures standards if applicable. Always confirm local regulations before billing tenants.
What is non-revenue water and how do meters help?
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water that is produced but not billed due to leaks, theft, or inaccurate meters. Smart water meters help identify leaks and anomalies early, reducing losses and improving operational efficiency — especially critical in multi-residential buildings and aging municipal systems.
Can I integrate utility meters with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?
Yes. QMC’s MeterConnex platform is fully approved for data exchange with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) and RetScreen. This makes it easy to automate benchmarking, energy audits and regulatory reporting — especially for clients in Ontario’s EWRB program, Alberta’s CESP, or federal Greening Government mandates.
Do I need separate meters for heating, cooling and hot water?
Often, yes. While some thermal meters can measure combined loads, best practice is to use dedicated meters for heating (e.g., fan coils), cooling (e.g., chilled water), and domestic hot water, especially in multi-residential or LEED buildings where usage varies by unit.
How do I choose the right submeter for my building?
Key factors include:
- Utility type (electricity, water, gas, etc.)
- Revenue vs. monitoring use case
- Communication method (wired, LoRaWAN, LTE)
- Pipe or voltage specs
- Integration needs (EMS, billing, BMS, ESPM)
Conclusion & Next Steps
Utility meters are not just measurement tools—they are the foundation of smarter energy management, cost savings and sustainability compliance. Whether you need submetering for tenant billing, real-time data for energy optimization or GHG tracking for sustainability mandates, the right solution makes all the difference.
Explore our detailed guides on each metering type:
🔗 Electricity Meters
🔗 Water Meters
🔗 Thermal Meters
🔗 Gas Meters
🔗 Steam Meters
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