national multiple family submetering and allocation billing program ...

CHAPTER 3 RESEARC H METHODS, APPROACH, AND PROCEDURES
OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH PROCESS
The research process for the National Submetering and Allocation Billing Program Study
(the Study) was developed by the project team in response to EBMUD’s request for proposals.
The general research plan outlined in that proposal has been followed throughout the research
and analysis process. Once the project was awarded to the consultant team, a detailed work plan
was developed to implement the research described in the initial proposal.
The general flow of the research effort moved from building the study team and formally
contracting with participating water utilities, to collecting data from surveys and service
companies, and finally to data analysis and modeling. Quality control and assurance measures
were implemented at each stage of the research process to ensure a high level of accuracy in all
aspects of the project.
Work on the project moved through an orderly development process for each site based
on the flow chart model in Figure 3.1. Most of the process was repeated for each individual
study site. The general process at each study site began by obtaining a complete list of historic
billing data for all multiple family properties in their district and surveying this group to identify
the billing method and characteristics of each property. All of the items in Figure 3.1 are briefly
detailed here and explained in greater depth later in the chapter.
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