Method of, in premises, distributing and measuring via water-conducting primary and secondary lines 12, 13 the quantity of heat drawn in each consumption unit 19, such as an apartment, where essentially all the vertical primary lines 12 are run in the secondary spaces of the premises, for example a stair-well 18. Secondary lines 13 branched off from the primary lines 12 to the respective consumption unit 19 are brought together in a measurement box 11 which comprises a preparation vessel 20 forming part of a central heat distribution system 21, the delivery line 22 of which opens at the top in the vessel while its return line 23 is connected to the lower part of the vessel, so that a temperature layering of the water is obtained. The preparation vessel 20 also forms part of a second circulation system 28 for heating the consumption unit. Arranged in the return line of the heat distribution network is an actuator valve 24 which is controlled by temperature sensors 26, 27 in the upper and lower part of the vessel 20. The valve is opened when a certain minimum temperature is achieved in the upper part of the vessel and at the same time the temperature in its lower part falls below a certain set maximum level, so that an intermittent charging of heat in the vessel and a relatively high temperature difference between the delivery line 22 and the return line 23 and a relatively constant temperature in the return line are obtained. Seen in the direction of flow after the actuator valve 24, a heat-quantity measuring device 25 is arranged in the return line 23.