Skip to main content

Submetering Apartments in Wake 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 Wake County. Get a free bid.

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 Wake County and the Raleigh area. Install, meter reading, resident billing, and compliance, all handled in-house since 1968.

Yes. Submetering is allowed in Wake 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 Wake 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 or allocation billing methods are not allowed in North Carolina
  • 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; 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 Wake County requirements

  • Water and sewer service is provided by the City of Raleigh and the Town of Cary, depending on the address
  • The City of Raleigh runs a Landlord Utility Billing Program that keeps water service on between residents, which NES coordinates with
  • Electricity is provided by Duke Energy
  • We serve communities across Wake County, including Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Garner, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina
  • NES confirms the rules for your address before the first meter goes in.

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 · City of Raleigh Landlord Utility Billing Program

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

Why owners across the Raleigh 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

  1. Step 1

    Free assessment

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

  2. Step 2

    Install meters

    We install nonproprietary meters at each unit. The equipment is yours, and other companies can read it.

  3. Step 3

    Read & detect

    Daily reads pull usage automatically and flag leaks within 24 hours, before they run up a bill.

  4. 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

140-home community, New MexicoWater & sewer
$264 / yr
owner's annual water and sewer cost, down from $26,400

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.

130-home park, TexasWater & sewer
$6,600 / yr
annual water and sewer cost, down from $120,000

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.

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.

Common questions

Submetering apartments in Wake County

Utility submetering puts a meter on each unit that measures and bills its water/sewer, gas, and electric use. The technology has been around since the early 1920s. NES installs the meters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills your residents, all in-house and with bilingual support.

See what your Wake County property can recover.

Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and get back to you within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.

  • No-obligation custom proposal
  • Compliance check included
  • Nonproprietary equipment options
Free assessment

Get a free bid for your property

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

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By submitting this form, you agree to our terms and privacy policy, and consent to NES contacting you about your request by phone, email, or text, including by automated means. Message and data rates may apply; reply STOP to end texts. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

or call us directly: (800) 572-7060
Sales(800) 572-7060Get a free quote