Utility Billing

Comprehensive Utility Management

Tap Into Superior Service at Every Turn

We have the valuable and all-too-rare ability to anticipate and solve problems with the full scope of utilities, including water, electricity and gas. Our insight & expertise extend to virtually any kind of installation such as:

● Multi and single family housing.
● Office, retail, commercial sites.
● Municipal and government locations.
● Institutional complexes.
● Manufacturing and Industrial facilities.

Utility Billing Methods

  • Total Capture
  • Hot Water Allocation
  • Rubs

Resident Bill-Back Programs

utility billing

Our past makes our selection as your utility management provider the obvious, intelligent choice for your future. The company was founded in 1982, when utilities were almost universally included "free" with rent, and conservation concerns were practically unheard of. Argen started as an energy control and conservation firm. We began promoting water conservation before most property owners or managers even realized there were viable ways to control consumption. Years of analyzing utility usage and problem solving have clients everywhere depending on Argen.

The size of resident bill amounts depend upon the usage and the rates of the primary supplier, and widely varies. W/S bills can range from a monthly average $15 in Memphis, to over $100 in Atlanta. High end bills can be over $400 per month in high rate municipalities. Many w/s utilities use high fixed base rates, giving minimal bills of over $35.

Submetering Systems

water submeters

Water submetering is the installation of water submeters in individual resident units, and using the meters as the basis for utility billing services and water conservation programs. Argen supplies water submeter systems for construction and retrofit scenarios.

Water submeters are fitted with radio transmitters, and water submeter reads are transmitted through signal repeaters to an on-site base station. An internet cord is connected to the base station, and water submeter read files are remotely downloaded. For some water submeter scenarios drive around systems are utilized, where the data collector is mobile and the reader goes on site to collect reads.

State, and sometimes local, regulations control the structure of submetering billing services. It is important to research individual states to make sure a proposed application is legal. Some regulations allow administrative costs and common area usage to be billed to tenants.

Flexibility for Meter Installations

Residential, commercial office and retail applications benefit from water submetering. Most dwelling, office or retail units use a standard 5/8” x 3/4" water submeter. Larger applications (restaurants, grocers) would need one to three inch meters, depending upon service line specs.

120/240 single phase electric meters are standard in most residential applications; larger meters are used for commercial, retail and common area submeter points.

Due to regulator control venting, gas submeters have more limited uses and points of service, particularly in mid and high rise applications. In instances where location is restricted, run time systems are utilized instead of a submeter. Run time measures the amount of time a thermostat calls for a unit to run, and is installed on the low voltage side of controls. It is less costly than gas submetering.

The 3 broad components of a utility submeter system:

  • 1) Industry certified electric, gas or water submeter. Each submeter has a radio transmitter built in or attached. Lithium battery is the typical power source.
  • 2) Signal Repeaters to repeat the radio signal, which is typically in the 900 MHz spectrum. Generally one repeater is placed on each building for garden style units, or on every floor for mid and high rises. Requires 120 v power source.
  • 3) Base Station to collects meter reads; requires 120v power source and a dedicated internet connection. Argen Billing Systems downloads submeter read files for billing and conservation purposes.