Natural Gas Submetering in Ontario: What You Need to Know

While electricity submetering is well established in Ontario with clear OEB licensing and regulatory frameworks, natural gas submetering operates under different conditions. Understanding these differences is important for property managers considering comprehensive energy metering.

Ontario's OEB licensing framework for Unit Sub-Meter Providers (USMPs) specifically covers electricity submetering. Natural gas submetering does not fall under the same regulatory structure. This means the consumer protections, billing standards, and complaint processes established in the USM Code apply to electricity, not natural gas.

Some buildings do use gas metering at the suite level, particularly in newer construction where each unit has individual gas heating or hot water equipment. In these cases, the metering and billing arrangements may be handled differently than electricity submetering.

For buildings where natural gas is used primarily for central heating plants, domestic hot water systems, or other shared infrastructure, the gas is typically included in operating costs or common expenses rather than submetered to individual suites. The consumption patterns for these central systems do not lend themselves to individual suite metering.

In buildings with both individual gas and electricity consumption, a combined metering approach can provide tenants with full visibility into their energy use. However, each utility type may be metered and billed under different regulatory frameworks.

If you are interested in gas metering for your building, discuss the options with your submetering provider and your gas utility. The regulatory and practical considerations differ from electricity, and it is important to understand the specific requirements for your situation.