12 Factors When Choosing a Water Submetering Company
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Submetering companies are not all the same. If you own or manage multifamily real estate, weigh these twelve things before you choose.
- Typical water savings
- 15-30%Typical water savings
- Typical payback
- ~12 moTypical payback
- Meter reads
- DailyMeter reads
- States served
- 43+States served
What should I look for in a water submetering company?
Twelve things separate a good submetering company from a costly mistake. Start with history and reputation: years in business, Google reviews, and referrals you can call. Then money: written pricing for installation, billing, meter replacement, and software, with nothing hidden. Then equipment: authorized reseller status, both WiFi and cellular meter options, and warranties on hardware you own. Finally, service: vacant cost recovery, an in-house support center your residents can reach, easy online payment, and integrations with your rent roll and accounting software. Also ask whether the company is privately held, since publicly held billing companies can be limited in how they operate. The full list is below, with what to ask on each.
The 12 factors to weigh
- Company history. Verify the track record so you do not choose an inexperienced provider
- Pricing. Get installation, billing, meter replacement, and software fees upfront with no hidden costs
- Private or public company. Publicly held billing companies can be limited in their capabilities
- Customer reviews. Check Google reviews for honest feedback from current clients
- Referrals. Ask for a few properties to contact about their experience
- Authorized reseller. Verify the company is an authorized reseller of the meters you buy
- WiFi and cellular. Confirm it offers both, since your property may need either
- Meter warranties. Ask whether equipment you purchase is warrantied
- Vacant recovery. Verify the company offers vacant cost recovery
- Customer service. Confirm there is an in-house support center for residents
- Payment options. Compare the online resident and manager portal and ease of payment
- Software integrations. Verify it integrates with your rent roll and accounting software
Why it matters
The wrong company can lock you into proprietary meters, hide fees, or leave residents without support. NES is privately owned, installs nonproprietary meters, runs an in-house bilingual support team, and integrates with the major property management systems.
What installation costs, and when it pays back
On average it costs a few hundred dollars per unit for labor and equipment, and the exact amount depends on the complexity and layout of the property. NES can handle the install or supply the equipment for your local plumber. Most properties earn back the cost in 12 to 18 months, and some sooner, because residents conserve once they are directly responsible for the bill.
How NES measures against the 12 factors
- Provides submetering services in more than 43 states, with a focus on properties of 80 or more multifamily units
- Offers extended warranties on submeters
- A dedicated compliance team verifies state and county regulations for every community served
- In-house phone and email support answers resident questions directly
- The president and owner manages the team and serves as a voluntary board member of the Utility Management and Conservation Association
If your property cannot be metered
Some buildings cannot take meters because of the plumbing, or the investment dollars are better used elsewhere. In those cases NES offers ratio or formula-based utility billing, which allocates the property's water, sewer, gas, or electric cost across units by a documented formula instead of a meter.
Not sure submetering fits your property?
Start with a free assessment. Send NES your master-meter bills and unit count, and the team will confirm feasibility, estimate your return, and recommend the right method for your property, with no obligation.
12 Factors When Choosing a Water Submetering Company
See what your property can recover.
Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.