Apartment Utility Billing
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
NES is one of the largest submetering companies in the country, billing residents for the utilities they use so owners recover operating expense.
- Typical water savings
- 15-30%Typical water savings
- Typical payback
- ~12 moTypical payback
- Meter reads
- DailyMeter reads
- States served
- 43+States served
What is apartment utility billing?
Apartment utility billing is how residents get charged for the water, sewer, gas, and electricity they use, instead of the owner absorbing one master bill. The usual method is submetering: a meter on each unit measures its use, and the resident is billed exactly that. Where meters cannot go, a documented formula splits the bill instead. Either way the owner recovers operating expense, and residents gain a reason to conserve. Utility billing is regulated, and the rules differ by state, county, and city, so compliance matters as much as the meters do. NES handles the metering, billing, and collections in more than 43 states, with an in-house compliance team tracking the rules for every community it serves.
What apartment utility billing is
The term covers everything between the meter and the payment: reading each unit's usage, turning it into an itemized bill, collecting from residents, and keeping the whole process inside state and local rules. Owners hand it to a billing company for the same reason they hand payroll to a payroll company. It is monthly, detail-heavy work where mistakes create angry residents and legal exposure.
Why owners choose NES
- One of the largest submetering companies in the country, focused on properties with 80 or more units
- A dedicated compliance team that keeps up with state regulations, so you avoid the liability
- Leadership active on the board of the Utility Management and Conservation Association
- Service in more than 43 states, including California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina
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.
Apartment Utility Billing
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.