In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that allows landlords to master meter their multi-family residential units and directs the Public Utility Commission to establish a program for landlord ratepayers or their designated agents for the use of a master meter system or subsystem.
 
Master metering is a system by which a public utility and electric generation services for a single residential building are billed through a commercial public utility account. While individual metering has its merits, master metering, particularly when coupled with effective sub-metering strategies, offers significant benefits in terms of operational efficiency, cost management, and the promotion of energy conservation within the multi-family housing sector.
 
Master metering consolidates utility billing for an entire property under a single account, offering several key advantages for landlords, such as simplified administration, potential for bulk rate savings as utility providers often offer discounted rates for high-volume consumption, enhanced control over building systems, and reduced vacancy costs.
 
While perceived as a landlord-centric approach, master metering can benefit tenants through predictability of utility costs (when bundled), reduced upfront costs that reduce move-in expenses, and the potential for lower overall housing costs through more competitive rental rates or improved amenities.
 
I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this legislation that empowers landlords with greater control and administrative simplicity, while offering tangible benefits to tenants and contributing to broader sustainability efforts.