# The Submetering Industry, and How to Pick a Company

Source: https://submeter.com/submetering-industry/
Publisher: National Exemption Service (NES), https://submeter.com. Last reviewed September 2026.

The field is small and tightly regulated, so the company you choose matters more than you might think.

## What should I look for in a submetering company?
The submetering industry in the US is small. A handful of large companies handle big portfolios, and many tiny shops run with one to three people. Because metering and ratio or formula-based billing are heavily regulated, the company you pick needs to keep tracking compliance for your properties after the install, instead of putting in meters and walking away. When comparing companies, check their history and reviews, get pricing upfront for install, billing, meter replacement, and software with no hidden fees, and confirm they are an authorized reseller of the meters you want. Ask about WiFi and cellular options, equipment warranties, vacant unit recovery, in-house customer service, an online payment portal, and whether they integrate with your rent roll and accounting software. NES has been privately owned since 1968 and bills thousands of units every month across more than 43 states.

## What the industry looks like
There are only a handful of large submetering companies in the country and a long tail of very small operators. Both metering and ratio or formula-based billing sit under rules that change by state and county, so compliance is not optional. A company that does not keep up with those rules can expose you to liability. That is why size and staffing matter when you choose a partner.

## Questions to ask before you sign
- How long have you been in business, and can I see reviews and references?
- What is the full price for install, billing, meter replacement, and software?
- Are you an authorized reseller of the meters I want, with warranties?
- Do you offer WiFi and cellular, vacant recovery, and in-house support, and integrate with my rent roll and accounting software?

## Questions
**Does company size really matter?**
It can. Larger, established firms are better set up to handle big portfolios and to keep a dedicated compliance team that tracks changing rules. Very small shops may struggle with both.

**What is vacant recovery, and why ask about it?**
Vacant recovery bills utility use for empty units back appropriately so the owner is not stuck absorbing it. Not every company offers it, so confirm before signing.