Your guide to sub-meter surveys with Stark 

Our data-first mindset extends to our sub-metering surveys.

We need to understand why you need sub-meters – your data expectations and how you intend to use the data – so we can provide the best sub-meter options to help you achieve your results.

Here, we explain how a survey is conducted and detail some of the key information we need.

1. Defining the Scope: Pre-survey Questions

Why are you installing sub-meters? This is the first question we ask. You must understand why you need sub-metering, so we can recommend the most suitable solutions.

There are TWO main reasons energy managers install sub-meters:

• Energy management: Obtaining enhanced, granular data to pinpoint efficiencies and improvements across your building or estate.
• Tenant recharging: Providing accurate consumption data to commercial tenants to recoup utility costs from them.

Once we know why you want the sub-metering, we will need to understand your building.

This information is essential to a successful sub-metering survey – you may not know all of the answers, but it’s very important to consider these ahead of any site visit.

• Detailed Meter List: Tell us where your main and any existing sub-meters are located, and they can be locally isolated
• Power downs: We need to know all areas where you cannot have disruptions to service/power.
• Scheduled Maintenance: If you have any pre-planned maintenance for any areas or equipment we will be working with, let us know
• Access requirements: Keys, codes, entry forms, security or tool permits – ensure we have what we need to gain access to meter and switch room locations.
• Existing equipment: We will integrate the existing sub-metering kit where it makes sense to do so, to save your costs.

2. Surveying your site

Site Survey

We schedule site visits from our team in Blackpool and will coordinate with you to make sure it’s at a suitable time.

No power shutdowns happen during a survey.

During a survey, our engineer will take detailed notes to ensure a smooth installation phase. Often, a different engineer will install the sub-meters, so the report needs to communicate all the information they will need.

• Meter Locations
• Meter Point Name
• Hardware required (Whole Current (WC) or Current Transformer (CT)
• Power Down required
• Signal Strength
• Photos

Desktop Survey

We may be able to perform a desktop survey and not attend the site if your project is small and not complex.

You will need to provide us with the photos, and we will guide you on what we need to see.

3. Quotation

We will provide a quotation based on the site survey or desktop survey for your consideration. Your account manager or one of our engineers will take you through and answer any questions you may have.

You will then be able to accept the quote, sign the contract and then proceed with the installation and data collection.