How Does Electric Submetering Work?
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
A meter sits between the main utility meter and each unit, so every resident's exact usage is measured and billed.
How does electric submetering work?
Electric submetering works by placing an individual meter between the building's main utility meter and each unit. That meter records the exact electricity a unit uses, so the resident is billed for their real consumption rather than an average. NES installs the meters, monitors them, reads them wirelessly every day, and sends each resident a monthly bill for their usage. Because residents see and pay for their own power, they tend to conserve, which lowers total use. The system also flags common-area electric use so it is measured and billed correctly instead of buried in the master account. It also protects rent. When residents cover their own power, rising electric rates stop forcing rent increases. NES focuses on properties with 80 or more units and most installs pay back in 12 to 18 months.
The path from main meter to resident bill
Power enters through the property's main utility meter. A submeter on each unit then counts exactly what that unit pulls. NES collects those reads wirelessly each day, totals them at month end, and produces a bill per resident. The math always stays within the master meter cost, so nothing is marked up.
What the daily reads give you
- Exact per-unit usage instead of an even split
- Common-area electric use measured and billed correctly
- Daily reads that surface unusual spikes early
- Monthly resident bills handled by NES, not your office
Related questions
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