IDAPA 31.26.01 § 102
MASTER-METERING AND INDIVIDUAL METERING IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND SHOPPING CENTERS (RULE 102)
Operative Text
Commercial buildings and shopping centers connected for electric service after July 1, 1980, may not be master metered if the units for non-transient tenants contain an electric space heating, water heating, or air-conditioning (space cooling) unit that is not centrally controlled and for which the unit’s tenants individually control electric usage. Any non-transient tenants in otherwise master-metered buildings will be individually metered and billed by the utility if the tenant’s electric load is significantly greater than that of other tenants in the building or shopping center or exceeds the individual metering threshold found in the utility’s tariffs. (7-1-24)
IDAPA 31.26.01 § 102 governs how electric service is metered in commercial buildings and shopping centers in Idaho. Under this rule, commercial properties connected to electric service after July 1, 1980, cannot use a single master meter if individual tenant units have their own electric space heating, water heating, or air-conditioning equipment that tenants control themselves. Additionally, even in buildings that are otherwise master-metered, any non-transient tenant whose electric load is significantly higher than other tenants—or who exceeds the threshold set in the utility's tariffs—must be individually metered and billed directly by the utility.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers of commercial buildings and shopping centers should be aware that IDAPA 31.26.01 § 102 places clear restrictions on master-metering arrangements for properties connected after July 1, 1980. Compliant operators generally verify whether tenant spaces include individually controlled electric heating, cooling, or water heating equipment, and if so, ensure those spaces are individually metered rather than served under a master meter. Operators of master-metered buildings also typically monitor tenant electric loads against the thresholds in the applicable utility's tariffs to determine whether any non-transient tenant must be transitioned to individual metering and direct utility billing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Non-transient tenants in Idaho commercial buildings and shopping centers have protections under IDAPA 31.26.01 § 102 regarding how their electric usage is measured and billed. If a tenant individually controls electric space heating, cooling, or water heating in a building connected after July 1, 1980, the rule generally requires that tenant to be individually metered rather than included in a master-metered arrangement. Tenants who believe their building's metering arrangement may not comply with § 102—or who think their electric load qualifies them for individual metering—may wish to review the applicable utility's tariffs, contact the utility directly, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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