Products And Services

Introduction

Digital Metering is a national submetering company that has pioneered the concept of automated networked meter reading. The electronic equipment used is all designed by, and exclusive to Digital Metering. Our equipment uses the latest high-speed digital communication technology. In most cases, this translates into only needing one phone line to read your entire project. The system has been perfected from the experience gained in the installation of thousands of units nationwide. This state of the art technology is coupled with a proprietary reading software that has been developed from five years of development, and hands-on applications. Since the system was developed specifically for the needs of the multi-tenant community, it has the flexibility to meet your most demanding needs. The system provides you with the ideal tools to detect leaks as well as tenant tampering. The system is designed for easy installation by any qualified low voltage or communications contractor and plumbing contractor. It will be shipped to your property pre-configured for your specific site, making installations efficient and reliable.

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The Digital Advantage

At the heart of any submetering system is the metering equipment. Think of each meter as a tiny cash register for your property. A quality system the integrates well with reading and billing operations will produce revenue for your property and work reliably for years to come. Poorly implemented systems can lead to loss of revenue, poor tenant relations and require ongoing maintenance. Although DMI can provide the more basic visual read systems at the same or lesser cost, you may be limiting your property's ability to stay competitive in the process. A real-time, accurate picture of your property's performance is and will continue to be a top priority.

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Types of Submetering Equipment

The universal requirement of submetering equipment is that it enables the placement of a water meter with each apartment unit and allows it to be read from the exterior of the building or telephonically, off-site. The primary location for this meter is at the point where the water supply line enters the unit. Digital Metering has designed two systems to provide alternative methods of addressing these requirements, the fully automated and the semi-automated.

Fully Automated

Our "fully" automated systems consist of a network connecting all of the meters within a property, allowing your meters to be read automatically via a modem directly to your reading service or to an on-site PC, all automatically. Provides for daily tenant move in and move out readings. Requires only one phone line per site. High speed reading minimizes the cost of meter reading. Requires only one AC power source per site. Provides for leak detection and high usage identification. Meters can be installed vertically. Provides for flexible efficient installation, especially in existing properties. Modular components can be tailored to size of installation. Pre-configured at Digital Metering to your specific site making for easy economical installation. Electronic reading can be matched to mechanical reading for accuracy verification. Eliminates the human error factor usually associated with most remote reading systems. Provides a high tech system capable of monitoring any utility including electricity in a deregulated utility market.

Semi-Automated

Our high tech "touch read" system makes it possible to read multiple meters from one touch pad point on a building to a hand held reader. The readings can be down loaded automatically to your PC or over a modem to you appointed billing service. Useful where underground network wiring is not cost effective. Eliminates the human error factor of collecting and transferring manual readings. Cost efficient means of collecting readings. Allows for on site management to obtain move in and move out readings. Fully and easily upgradeable to a fully automated system at a later date.

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Supporting Software

As well as having the top submetering packages available in the market, DMI is in a league of their own with custom software development designed to give your property the tools it needs to effectively compete in today's market. This software is the perfect supporting tool to put your management team in touch with their property in ways never thought possible before. Through consumption reports, management can spot potential leaking fixtures and get them repaired promptly. Savings from this knowledge alone can save up to $15.00 a day per unit by spotting a leaking flapper valve on a toilet. Without this type of knowledge, you are entrusting the resident to diagnose what is wrong with their unit. Not necessarily an exact science and that is assuming they tell you as soon as it starts leaking, otherwise, every day that goes by is money being lost. DMI's reading software can work in conjunction with your billing service or it can be used to support an in-house effort to generate their own billings. In short, these are the type of solutions that Digital Metering has spent years of development on. Technology shouldn't be intimidating and most of all, technology should work for you. Readings can be taken at any time and in matter of minutes! The "active report" allows you to view the readings as they occur. By clicking on a particular unit, the unit's reading history is displayed. Detailed reports can be generated using the report function. i.e., consumption reports, unit reading history, etc.

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How Much Does It Cost?

Since rarely are any two properties the same, this also holds true when trying to figure costs involved for implementing a submetering system on your property. For instance, a 50 unit property will likely cost a little bit more to meter than say a 250 unit property since there are fewer units involved to absorb some of the fixed costs. A fully automated system, one that reads via a modem, will likely cost around $135.00/per unit. This will provide you virtually all of the hardware you will need to install such a system. The semi-automated "hybrid" systems will cost around $120.00/per unit. These systems are set up with the same equipment as the fully automated systems less the modem and servers. With this platform, it will be very easy and inexpensive to add the electronics at a later date to allow it to operate as a fully automated system. The most basic level of metering systems are the "solo" systems in which each meter is a stand alone system. Each meter is read by a single module mounted on the exterior of the unit or building. Just as the hybrid version, readings are taken by scanning each module. These systems will run around $105.00/per unit plus $425.00 for the downloadable reader with read memory. Should you wish to receive a more specific proposal, a copy of the site plan may be necessary if for new construction or a property diagram showing the building's location for an existing property. Fully automated systems, on average, cost less than $140/unit Semi-automated systems, on average cost less than $120/unit Scan Read systems, cost less than $110/unit You can reach us a 1-800-364-6387 or fax us at 425-885-7722 with the above information. Please note that the prices above are for ordering equipment direct from Digital Metering. Dealer pricing may be slightly higher.

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