Multifamily Submetering
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
NES installs, services, and repairs water, gas, and electric submeters for multifamily communities, and manages the resident billing.
- Typical water savings
- 15-30%Typical water savings
- Typical payback
- ~12 moTypical payback
- Meter reads
- DailyMeter reads
- States served
- 43+States served
Can submeters be installed in my multifamily community?
Yes. NES offers water, electric, and gas submeters for inside or outside a unit. Water meters usually go in a utility closet. The plumber needs a space about the size of a football, and each install takes under 30 minutes per unit. Installation costs a few hundred dollars per unit on average, and most properties earn back the cost in 12 to 18 months. Where there is not enough space, NES offers ratio or formula-based billing after verifying the local rules.
What utilities can be submetered
Every major utility can be submetered, and water, gas, and electric are the most common. Meters can be placed inside or outside a unit depending on the property.
How much do submeters cost to install?
On average it costs a few hundred dollars per unit for a professional plumber to install, and the exact amount depends on the complexity and layout. NES can also provide the equipment for your local plumber to install. Most properties earn back the cost in 12 to 18 months, and some recover it sooner.
More benefits for multifamily owners
- Detects underground leaks before they cause damage
- Common-area utilities can be billed to residents where local rules allow
- Residents conserve more when they are responsible for the cost
- Where meters do not fit, ratio or formula-based billing is an option
Not sure submetering fits your property?
Start with a free assessment. Send NES your master-meter bills and unit count, and the team will confirm feasibility, estimate your return, and recommend the right method for your property, with no obligation.
Multifamily Submetering
See what your property can recover.
Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.