If there is no way to throttle, how can i monitor the energy consumption from each tenant? 

So RUBS will not cut down total consumption IMHO.With RUBS, allocation is based more or less on square footage.

Moral of the story if you only have $4k I would definitely recommend going the turn-key route or have a plan to save a bunch of money for the unexpected expenses.A few other things that are easy to overlook with a VA loan, like the origination fee (I may not be calling it by the right name) on top of the standard closing costs.

Because any morally upright landlord would support me.

Moral of the story is that you pay out the nose to pass the work off to someone else who has all the connections and know-how.

When the time comes in which the state removes all subjective decision making options for landlords many of you are going to regret voting in your big government morality police 

The moral is, no matter how many you do there will always be some kind of uh oh.

Solar properties are far more sensitive to consumption because the equipment costs so damn much.

I guess the moral of the story is even small potatoes come in 5lb bags.The house is indeed in a residential neighborhood (really close to OHSU) and we'll likely sell it in a year or so, so changing the occupancy or use is not an option.

I’m mean dang man, I wouldn’t want to do any deals with someone who doesn’t even put some moral thought over their profits.