WHO WE ARE?

A multi-disciplined firm providing measurement and verification on a metered basis for electric, steam, water and BTU to determine costs.

The beginning of Utilities Research Associates

Utilities Research Associates began more than fifty years ago as a small, four person consulting office in New York City. Back then, most of the electrical industry was rent inclusion survey based. At that time, all work was typed and calculated by hand. URA was the first company to use custom written computer software, using programmable calculators.

Dedication to evolving technologies

In 1978, URA hired Altman Data Systems to completely automate and computerize its survey procedures, resulting in the first Survey Calculation Software program a first in the business. URA’s association with Altman Data Systems has continued for 26 years, constantly integrating the latest technological developments into their consulting procedures. The new survey program led us to new software to compute all electric rates and tariffs. These were the days of the energy crisis, long gas lines and a panicked nation. Utility rates were skyrocketing and changing constantly. Landlords needed help to navigate through all the chaos. For the first time, landlords needed to reduce overhead at all costs -- and URA was there for the challenge.

A History of Coast to Coast Excellence

In 1981, URA was awarded the consulting contract for American Airlines, providing complete cost analysis to the Sky Chef Food Service Facilities. This was a massive job and involved facilities at all the major national airports including Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Boston and New York. URA was able to reduce their costs five percent a year over a three year period.

Deep Roots in New York City

The year was 1986, and the Port Authority of NY and NJ’s World Trade Center was in need of controlling their costs and recouping increased revenue from their tenants. URA stepped in, modifying their already proven Survey Program to specifically address the needs of the Port Authority with customized software. As a result, the Port Authority of NY and NJ was able to recapture millions of dollars, due to the efforts of URA.

WHY URA Group?

URA Group provides services to the most prestigious firms in the real estate industry. We can provide the same services to you.

50 years of service innovation.

URA Group has been in the forefront of building sub-metering and energy management for over 50 years.

URA Group helped to develop the concept of Electronic Remote reading capability and encouraged the development of the first reliable electronic meter that can be used for tenant revenue billing - leaps in industry innovation that are still widely used today.

You will not find a more innovative, versatile, and well versed firm in the industry.

We help companies go green and stay that way.

With services that help identify and resolve utility over-load and integrating new technology, URA Group helps buildings go green and stay that way.

New federal and state laws require increased efficiency and utility load management or face heavy penalties and fines. URA Group not only helps you stay efficient and manage building loads but can even help you feed energy back to the grid. Our utility load management and monitoring help identify wasted load that can be shed in response to city and state conservation efforts.

Always professional and reliable.

URA group has over 150 years of combined experience in our senior staff. Over 50 years, we have developed solid methodologies and processes that help us be the most reliable firm in the industry.

We pass on our methodologies and processes to our employees through vigorous training sessions, ongoing enrichment programs, and strict oversight.

Richard Simon

President

Richard purchased URA in 1975. Prior to leading the growth of URA and its affiliates, he was a commercial developer in various major markets. He is a member of the Owner’s Committee on Electric Rates and the Building Owners and Managers Association. Under his guidance, URA has become a major force in the utility cost consulting industry, bringing the various disciplines into the twenty-first century.

Joseph Abeleira

Executive Vice President

With thirty-three years of experience in the metering field, Joe has seen technologies, rate structures and real estate strategies become increasingly sophisticated. Trained originally in meter installation and testing, he became familiar with equipment from all the major meter manufacturers. His days spent in customer relations and quality assurance has involved him deeply in rate application and all pertinent tax ramifications. He is proud and grateful for an energetic, dynamic and trustworthy staff that has helped URA Group to meet and overcome all developing challenges.

Nicholas Sena

Vice President

Nick joined URA Group on October 1979 giving him over thirty years of experience in the energy consulting industry. Nick has been responsible for the development and implementation of its Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) programs and has supervised growth in this area. He spearheaded URA Group’s campaign to develop their Data Acquisition Software (DAQ) which allows the company to read all remote reading sites on a daily basis permitting them to closely monitor each location.

George Ramirez

IT Manager

George, a graduate of Columbia University's CTA program for Computer Programming and Software Development, comes to the URA Group with over 10 years experience in both the Sub-metering and Real Estate businesses. He is a major contributor to the development and maintenance of the BORG billing program and handheld computer units making the URA Group's sub-meter reading and billing system more accurate and efficient.

Khalid Hunter

Senior Integrations Specialist

Khalid Hunter has over 10 years of experience in the management and installation of meter data retrieval systems. Khalid's innovations in the automated hardware used by the URA Group for the remote monitoring and data acquisition of real time meters have been essential in the delivery of reliable meter usage and load data. A graduate of Drew University and a lifetime of systems engineering experience have made Khalid a corner stone of the URA Group.

What We Offer

customize our service offerings to your needs

Manual Readings
Remote Readings
Interval Metering
Multi-Utility R&B
Meter Sales
Meter Installation

Cost Recovery
Tenant Auditing
Multi-Utility
Utility Surveying
Load estimation
Lease Consulting

Public Light & Power Studies
Tenant Analysis
Building Analysis
Electrical CAD Diagrams
General Wiring Diagrams
Utility Forcasting

Average Cost Estimations
Utility Forecasting
Tenant Auditing
Tenant Forecasting
Metering
Utility Bill Auditing

Annual Benchmarking (LL84)
Energy Audits (LL87)
Retro-commissioning (LL87)
Lighting Upgrades (LL88)
Sub-metering (LL88)

our service process

proven processes - 50 years in the making

Execution

Execution has been the key to our success for over 50 years. URA Group understands that execution is not a one-time exercise. Rather, it is something that must be continually revisited as industry dynamics evolve and new technology emerges.

Communication

Communication problems are the major underlying reason for project failures. URA Group believes in consistent and predictable channels of communication with our clients and with our team to ensure all project and safety expectations are clearly defined and strictly maintained.

Oversight

Proper management and oversight is an essential piece of our success. Our senior team has over 150 years of combined experience in the industry and that level of experience gives URA group a unique advantage in delivering professionally and reliably no matter how large your project requirements are.

Validation

Every project we engage in goes through vigorous verification and validation upon completion to ensure that client expectations are not only met, but exceeded.

client reviews

What our customers say about URA Group

Richard T.

Joseph P Day Realty Corp

We are pleased to highly recommend URA Group for all utility metering and sub-metering services, including consumption surveys and consulting services.

Robert M.

L&L Holding Company, LLC

Having worked closely with Dick Simon and the highly competent team at URA Group for more then 18 years on over 15 million square feet of commercial & retail space in Manhattan, I can attest first hand to their competence & professionalism.

Felicia A.

Matrix Development Group

We are extremely pleased with URA Group since my first meeting in 2014 to the close of the project most recently.

Lisa C.

Staten Island Executive Plaza LLC

I would like to state our extreme satisfaction with URA Group. We had worked for many years with a different company & didn’t realize the lack of service that we were dealing with.The entire company from the president right down to the receptionist handle the smallest to largest issue with supreme concern.

about ura group