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. Submetering also catches leaks early, lets you bill common-area usage accurately, and can raise the value of the property. Payback usually lands within 12 to 18 months.

Is submetering legal in Texas?

Yes. In Texas, apartment water and wastewater submetering is regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) under 16 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 24. Those rules were previously handled by the TCEQ under 30 TAC Chapter 291. Electricity submetering also falls under PUCT rules. NES tracks every requirement so your property stays compliant.

Who regulates submetering in Travis County?

Water and sewer submetering falls under the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), in 16 TAC Chapter 24, Subchapter I. Utility service itself in Travis County falls under the PUCT. NES tracks the current Texas and local requirements for your address, so billing is set up to match the rule.

Who provides water and utilities in Travis County?

Water and sewer across most of Travis County comes from Austin Water, with city systems such as Pflugerville and Cedar Park and districts like Travis County WCID No. 10 serving other areas. 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 Austin 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 a clear, no-obligation estimate.

Will I be locked into NES equipment?

No. NES installs nonproprietary meters that other companies can read, and extended warranties are available on our submeters. You're never locked in.

Submetering Apartments in Travis County, Texas

Texas lets owners bill residents for submetered or allocated water once the property meets the state's water-conservation preconditions, and owners must register with the PUCT before billing residents. NES installs the submeters, reads them daily, and bills your residents across Travis 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, gas & electric submetering for apartment communities, condominiums, and mobile home parks across Travis County and the Austin area. Install, meter reading, resident billing, and compliance, all handled in-house since 1968.

Yes. Submetering is allowed in Travis County, Texas, with some restrictions.

It is regulated by the PUCT, and NES handles the requirements for you.

What we submeter

Water & sewer
Per-unit water and sewer metering with 24-hour leak alerts.
Natural gas
Accurate gas reads and resident billing, kept compliant.
Electric
Electric submetering on nonproprietary meters you own.

Rules & compliance

Submetering rules & laws in Travis County

Governing rule: 16 TAC Chapter 24 · PUCT

Texas state rules

Water and sewer submetering falls under the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), in 16 TAC Chapter 24, Subchapter I
Owners must register with the PUCT before billing residents for water and sewer; electric billing currently requires no PUCT registration, and gas billing requires none
Every submeter must be tested for accuracy before service, and all units must use the same unit of measure
PUCT rules set how charges are calculated and what each resident's bill has to show
RUBS (allocated) billing for water and electricity must use PUC approved formulas
Owners may add a surcharge of up to 9 percent on submetered water and sewer charges, and late fees are capped at 5 percent
No administrative fee is allowed on electric billing; on gas, an administrative fee of up to $3.00 is allowed on submetered gas only and must be disclosed in the lease
Water and wastewater submetering rules moved from the TCEQ (30 TAC Chapter 291) to the PUCT in 2014. Electricity submetering has its own PUCT rules.

Local Travis County requirements

Water and sewer across most of Travis County comes from Austin Water, with city systems such as Pflugerville and Cedar Park and districts like Travis County WCID No. 10 serving other areas
Electricity in Austin is provided by Austin Energy, a municipally owned utility, and natural gas by Texas Gas Service
Texas requires unit level water measurement, by submeter or individual meter, in multifamily properties where construction began after January 1, 2003, under Texas Water Code 13.502, and NES handles the submetering and billing
We serve communities across Travis County, including Austin, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Manor, and Lago Vista
Our compliance team rechecks Texas and local requirements before billing starts.

How NES keeps you compliant

Tracks every Texas 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: Public Utility Commission of Texas · 16 TAC Chapter 24 · Texas Water Code 13.502

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

Why owners across the Austin area choose NES for submetering

Per gallon. Residents pay for what they actually use.
15-30%. Lower utility consumption.
Under 24 hr. Catch leaks before they cost thousands.

How NES handles it, end to end

Step 1
Free assessment
We review your master-meter bills and unit count, then model the recovery. No cost, no obligation.
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

337-unit apartment communityWater

36% lower

water use per unit after submetering

Before submetering100%

After submetering64%

Water use fell 36% once residents paid for their own consumption. Average cost per unit went from $84.72 to $54.22 a month, about 2,000 gallons saved per unit. Figures from NES property records.

140-home community, New MexicoWater & sewer

$264 / yr

owner's annual water and sewer cost, down from $26,400

Before submetering$26,400 / yr

After submetering$264 / yr

The owner had been absorbing the whole master-meter bill. After metering each home, residents paid for what they used. Figures from NES property records.

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

Submetering in nearby Texas cities

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

Free assessment

Get a free bid for your property

Tell us about your Travis 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