Smart meters changed the energy conversation from "a monthly bill" to "a visible pattern." In Ontario, most people know smart meters through Time-of-Use pricing, but the bigger shift is the data and communication capability underneath.
A traditional meter measures total consumption, but it is read infrequently. A smart meter is digital and can measure not only how much electricity is used, but also when it is used, then transmit that information over a network.
Billing-grade readings are used to issue invoices. In Canada, meters used for billing must meet Measurement Canada requirements. Monitoring readings can be near real-time and very useful for insights, but they may not be "billing quality." Good building programs use both.
Modern submetering platforms usually include remote reads instead of walking meters, interval and trend views for residents and property teams, alerts and anomaly detection for catching expensive issues early, faster dispute resolution using actual reads and patterns, and operational insight for common areas.
Suite-level billing makes energy visible and personal. That is why major Ontario research has found significant average reductions after submetering.
As EV charging expands, boards want answers about spare capacity, peak shape, and load growth. Meter data gives you a factual baseline so you can plan capacity upgrades and avoid guesswork.
Data access should be role-based (residents see their own suite, managers see building-level views). Retention and deletion policies should be clear and consistent.