What are the benefits of submetering an apartment community?

When residents pay for what they actually use, they cut back. Most properties see 15 to 30 percent lower water use. Daily reads also catch leaks early, and common-area water stops getting spread across everyone's rent. Payback usually lands within 12 to 18 months.

Is submetering legal in North Carolina?

Yes, for water, sewer, and electricity. North Carolina water and sewer submetering is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and the owner must be certified with the NCUC before billing residents. Residents are billed on actual submetered usage, ratio (RUBS) billing is not allowed, and the water administrative fee is capped at $3.75 per unit per month. Electric submetering is also allowed, with the administrative fee limited to the maximum the commission allows. Gas submetering is not allowed in North Carolina. NES tracks every requirement so your property stays compliant.

Who regulates submetering in Forsyth County?

Water and sewer submetering is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), and the owner must be certified with the NCUC before billing residents for water and sewer service. Utility service itself in Forsyth County falls under the NCUC. NES tracks the current North Carolina and local requirements for your address, so billing is set up to match the rule.

Who provides water and utilities in Forsyth County?

Water and sewer service is provided by the City of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County utilities. NES works with whichever provider serves your property, installs the submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills your residents in-house across the Winston-Salem area.

How much does it cost, and what is the ROI?

Most submetering installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months through the utility cost you recover. We'll run the numbers on your actual master-meter bills and unit count, then send you an estimate. You are not signing anything.

Will I be locked into NES equipment?

No. NES installs nonproprietary meters that other companies can read, The meters are yours, and extended warranties are available if you want one.

Submetering Apartments in Forsyth County, North Carolina

North Carolina caps the submetering admin fee at $3.75 per unit per month and does not allow ratio billing, so measured billing is the only compliant path. NES installs the submeters, reads them daily, and bills your residents across Forsyth County. Get a free bid.

Get a free bid (800) 572-7060

Privately owned since: 1968Privately owned since
States served: 43+States served
Typical utility savings: 15-40%Typical utility savings
In-house support: BilingualIn-house support

NES handles water/sewer and electric submetering for apartment communities, condominiums, and mobile home parks across Forsyth County and the Winston-Salem area. Install, meter reading, resident billing, and compliance, all handled in-house since 1968.

Yes. Submetering is allowed in Forsyth County, North Carolina, with some restrictions.

It is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and NES handles the requirements for you.

What we submeter

Water & sewer
Per-unit water and sewer metering with 24-hour leak alerts.
Electric
Electric submetering on nonproprietary meters you own.

Rules & compliance

Submetering rules & laws in Forsyth County

Governing rule: NCUC water resale rules · North Carolina Utilities Commission

North Carolina state rules

Water and sewer submetering is regulated by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), and the owner must be certified with the NCUC before billing residents for water and sewer service
Residents must be billed on actual submetered usage, and ratio (RUBS) billing is not allowed in North Carolina. The one exception: in apartments built before 1989, and mobile home parks sited before 1989 (added by S.L. 2026-59), where measuring total water use is impractical, water and sewer can be split by each unit's submetered hot water use, with no charges for common areas or main leaks and records kept for 12 months (G.S. 62-110(g)(1a))
The NCUC water rules apply to apartment communities with 15 or more units, while water submetering in condominiums and HOA townhomes is regulated by the NC DEQ Public Water Supply Section as well, and HOA townhomes may have to be metered individually by the utility; submetering commercial units requires a special NCUC filing and two $10,000 bonds; gas submetering and gas billing are not allowed in North Carolina
The administrative fee an owner can add is capped by NCUC Rule R18-6 at $3.75 per unit per month, and late fees or occupancy-update charges are not permitted
For electricity, submetering is allowed in North Carolina, residents are billed for their measured use, and the administrative fee cannot exceed the maximum the commission allows
NES tracks every NCUC requirement so your property stays compliant

Local Forsyth County requirements

Water and sewer service is provided by the City of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County utilities
Electricity is provided by Duke Energy
We serve communities across Forsyth County, including Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville, and Walkertown
North Carolina rules change from time to time. NES keeps track and updates your billing when they do.

How NES keeps you compliant

Tracks every North Carolina and local rule that affects your property
Handles rate registrations and required filings
Keeps audit-ready billing archives
Manages tenant disclosures and meter testing

See how NES handles compliance

Official sources: North Carolina Utilities Commission · NCUC Water Resale

General information only, not legal advice; NES assumes no liability for reliance. Confirm current rules with the NCUC or a qualified attorney.

Why owners in the Winston-Salem area use NES

Per gallon. Residents pay for what they actually use.
15-30%. Lower utility consumption.
Under 24 hr. Leaks flagged the same day.

What happens after you call

Step 1
Free assessment
We review your master-meter bills and unit count, then model what you would recover. There is no charge for this.
Step 2
Install meters
We install nonproprietary meters at each unit. The equipment is yours, and other companies can read it.
Step 3
Read & detect
Daily reads pull usage automatically and flag leaks within 24 hours, before they run up a bill.
Step 4
Bill & support
We bill residents, pay the master-meter utility, and field resident questions in-house, in English and Spanish.

Real NES results

130-home park, TexasWater & sewer

$6,600 / yr

annual water and sewer cost, down from $120,000

Before submetering$120,000 / yr

After submetering$6,600 / yr

The park also gained more than $113,000 in annual revenue once each home was billed for its own use. Figures from NES property records.

337-unit apartment communityWater

34% lower

water use per unit in submetered units

Not yet metered100%

Submetered66%

The property added meters as leases renewed. Midway, the 168 submetered units averaged 3,868 gallons per unit per month against 5,846 for the 169 not yet metered, and their average bill was 36% lower ($54.22 vs $84.72). Figures from NES property records.

Real NES properties. Results vary by property, utility rates, and resident mix.

Submetering in nearby North Carolina cities

NES installs and runs submetering across North Carolina. See the rules and results for other communities we serve.

Free assessment

Get a free bid for your property

Tell us about your Forsyth County property and we’ll respond within one business day.

or call us directly: (800) 572-7060

Privately owned since 1968
Nonproprietary meters, no lock-in
In-house bilingual support
No long-term contracts

Common questions