Submetering Installation Success for JLL Phoenix Shared Office Building

Managing energy use in multi-tenant buildings can be challenging, with shared meters often creating billing disputes and limited visibility regarding consumption.

At Saguaro Solar Electric, we recently completed a submetering installation for a shared office property at JLL Phoenix, providing accurate, suite-level energy monitoring.

This project highlights how modern submetering solutions and electrical panel upgrades can improve billing fairness, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver actionable insights that support long-term energy management for both tenants and property owners.

Submeter Installation Project Highlights

Our team at Saguaro Solar Electric recently completed a comprehensive submetering installation for a multi-tenant shared office property at JLL Phoenix.

The project required careful planning, seamless coordination with building management, and precise electrical integration to ensure accurate, tenant-level energy monitoring.

The result is a modernized metering system that enhances transparency, improves billing accuracy, and supports long-term operational efficiency.

This project is just one of many of our recent major installations across southern Arizona.

For example, we recently installed a complete solar energy system for the Tucson American Red Cross facility and provided the Aloft Tempe Hotel with four state-of-the-art Tesla EV charging stations.

Site Evaluation and Planning Around the Client’s Goals

Before beginning installation, our team conducted a detailed on-site assessment to understand the building’s electrical layout, existing panel capacity, and tenant distribution.

JLL Phoenix requested a solution that would support more accurate cost allocation, reduce administrative burden, and create a clearer picture of energy usage across multiple suites.

Our experts at Saguaro Solar developed a project roadmap outlining equipment placement, conduit routing, and service panel access to ensure minimal disruption to ongoing tenant operations.

Coordination With Property Management

Working within an active commercial office required close communication with JLL’s property management team to schedule access, coordinate system shutdowns, and maintain safety for occupants.

Our lead project manager facilitated daily meetings, provided clear timelines, and prepared detailed documentation so management could notify tenants in advance of brief service interruptions.

This collaborative approach helped streamline the project while ensuring that all operational needs, security protocols, and facility regulations were respected at every stage.

Submeter Installation & Configuration

The installation included mounting individual submeters for each tenant suite, running precision-measured wiring from the main distribution panels, and integrating current transformers for accurate load tracking.

Technicians configured each device to report real-time data to a centralized monitoring dashboard, allowing property managers to view and export usage reports by tenant or panel segment.

After installation, the team performed calibration tests to verify metering accuracy and ensure consistent data capture across all circuits.

Safety, Compliance & Quality Assurance

Because the work occurred in an occupied building with complex electrical infrastructure, Saguaro Solar prioritized strict adherence to NEC standards, local electrical codes, and JLL’s internal safety guidelines.

Technicians utilized lockout/tagout procedures, wore full protective equipment, and followed a step-by-step quality assurance checklist during each installation phase.

Every submeter was inspected, torque-tested, and documented to confirm code compliance and long-term reliability, ensuring the system would perform safely and accurately for years to come.

Final Outcome & Measurable Improvements

Upon completion, JLL Phoenix gained a fully modernized submetering system with significantly improved visibility into tenant-level energy usage.

Property managers can now track consumption trends, identify anomalies, and generate precise billing reports without relying on estimates or shared usage formulas.

The system has already reduced administrative time, increased billing fairness, and provided baseline data that will support future energy-efficiency initiatives across the building’s shared office environment.

The Importance of Submetering Installation for Multi-Tenant Buildings

Submetering is one of the most effective ways for property owners and managers to gain clarity and control over how energy is consumed throughout a shared commercial environment.

By capturing accurate, suite-level usage data, multi-tenant buildings can improve fairness, reduce waste, and support more informed operational and financial decision-making.

How Electric Submeter Installation Supports Fair Billing

In multi-tenant buildings, shared main meters often force property managers to divide utility costs based on square footage or occupancy, but these methods rarely reflect true usage.

Submetering eliminates this guesswork by assigning real electrical consumption to each suite, ensuring tenants pay only for what they use.

This promotes fairness, reduces disputes, and provides clearer transparency for lease agreements. For owners, it also creates more predictable revenue streams by aligning billing with actual, verified usage data.

Improving Energy Transparency for Tenants & Owners

Submetering provides both tenants and owners with granular insight into how electricity is consumed across the building. Tenants gain access to usage patterns that can help them identify wasteful habits, adjust equipment schedules, or better manage peak load times.

For property owners, the data supports operational planning, early detection of unusual consumption spikes, and more informed budgeting. This shared transparency encourages accountability and fosters stronger tenant-management relationships built on trust and accuracy.

Identifying Usage Trends for Cost Savings

Real-time and historical submetering data allows property managers to detect inefficiencies such as outdated equipment, HVAC imbalances, or irregular load behaviors that traditional billing methods tend to obscure.

By pinpointing these trends, owners can make targeted upgrades, adjust operational schedules, or implement demand-reduction strategies that lower long-term energy costs.

Submetering also supports strategic planning by highlighting peak-demand periods, helping owners evaluate energy-efficiency opportunities and optimize building performance year-round.

Technical Approach & Equipment Overview

A successful submetering project requires not only precise installation but also a well-engineered integration of hardware, wiring, and data systems.

Industry-standard equipment and a structured methodology ensure long-term accuracy, reliability, and seamless compatibility with existing electrical infrastructure.

Typical Components Used in Modern Submetering

Modern submetering systems typically include digital submeters, current transformers (CTs), communication modules, and centralized data hubs. Submeters record energy consumption at the tenant or circuit level, while CTs measure electrical current passing through each line.

Communication modules transmit the data to a central monitoring platform, which is often cloud-based, enabling real-time reporting, billing accuracy, and historical trend analysis.

Protective enclosures and surge safeguards help ensure safety and long-term equipment durability.

System Integration With Existing Electrical Panels

Successful submetering requires integration with a building’s existing electrical panels in a way that is safe, code-compliant, and minimally disruptive.

Technicians typically map each circuit, install CTs on designated lines, and connect submeters to panel outputs. Proper labeling and organized conduit routing maintain clarity and reduce electrical interference.

Integration ensures that each submeter accurately reflects consumption without impacting other electrical systems, allowing building managers to reliably monitor usage at a granular level.

Data Monitoring & Reporting Capabilities

Submetering systems provide a centralized platform for monitoring energy use in real time and analyzing historical consumption trends. Data dashboards allow managers to generate tenant-specific usage reports, identify peak demand periods, and detect inefficiencies.

Many systems offer customizable alerts for unusual consumption, exportable billing summaries, and integration with energy management software.

This capability transforms raw electrical data into actionable insights for cost savings, energy-efficiency planning, and operational optimization.

Electric Submeter Installation Cost

The cost of electric submetering installation typically ranges from $500 to $1,500 per meter, depending on the system’s complexity, the number of tenants, and the building’s existing electrical infrastructure.

Additional factors influencing price include panel accessibility, conduit requirements, integration with monitoring software, and labor for certified electricians. Larger or multi-story properties may incur higher costs due to increased wiring and equipment needs.

Benefits Delivered to JLL Phoenix

Submetering transforms the way multi-tenant buildings track, manage, and allocate energy use. The installation at JLL Phoenix not only improved operational visibility but also delivered measurable benefits for both tenants and property managers.

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

Submetering allows building managers to monitor energy usage in real time, making it easier to identify inefficiencies and optimize operational practices.

At JLL Phoenix, the system reduced reliance on estimated billing and manual meter readings, saving staff time and streamlining workflows.

Accurate energy tracking supports proactive maintenance, prevents overloads, and ensures building systems operate efficiently across multiple tenants.

More Accurate Tenant Allocation

One of the most immediate benefits of submetering is the ability to assign energy costs precisely to each tenant.

By measuring actual consumption rather than relying on proportional estimates, JLL Phoenix tenants now pay fairly for what they use, eliminating disputes and allowing for full transparency.

This approach encourages tenants to manage consumption responsibly and provides owners with reliable billing data for accurate cost recovery.

Streamlined Future Energy Planning

Detailed energy data from submeters helps owners make informed decisions about building upgrades, efficiency projects, and demand management. For JLL Phoenix, the system provides baseline consumption trends that can guide future sustainability initiatives and load optimization.

Submetering supports long-term energy planning by revealing usage patterns, highlighting areas for improvement, and enabling smarter budgeting and investment in energy-saving technologies.

About Saguaro Solar Electric

At Saguaro Solar Electric, we provide comprehensive solar, roofing, and electrical solutions for both residential and commercial clients.

Our team specializes in solar panel installation, maintenance, and energy storage systems, including Tesla Powerwall installations.

As for our electrical services, our licensed electricians handle panel upgrades, EV charger installations, and full-system electrical projects.

With decades of combined experience and a commitment to in-house workmanship, we deliver reliable, high-quality results across every project we undertake.

Considering Submeter Installation Services? Here’s How We Can Help

If you manage a multi-tenant building or commercial property, our team can design and install a submetering system that provides accurate and transparent tenant-level energy tracking.

We handle everything from panel upgrades to meter installation, wiring, and data system setup, ensuring seamless integration with your existing infrastructure. By keeping all work in-house, we maintain full accountability and guarantee quality craftsmanship at every stage.

Whether you’re retrofitting an older building or planning new construction, we provide a turnkey submetering solution that delivers clarity, fair billing, and actionable energy insights for years to come.

Contact us today to get a free estimate and begin planning for a smarter future. Call (520) 704-6868 to learn more about our comprehensive solar, roofing, and electrical services.