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Salt Lake City Apartment Water Submetering

Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026

Utah is one of the friendliest submetering states in the country. State law keeps cities out of it, so your lease sets the billing. NES installs, reads, and bills across the Wasatch Front.

Utah makes submetering simple. Under state law (Utah Code 10-8-85.5), municipalities cannot regulate submetering or how owners allocate utility cost, so the rental agreement governs. That means a Salt Lake City owner can meter every unit, bill residents for actual use, and recover cost without a city-by-city compliance maze. NES handles the install, the daily reads, and the resident billing in-house.

Quick answer

Is apartment submetering allowed in Salt Lake City?

Yes. Utah allows residential submetering, and state law (Utah HB 290, codified at Utah Code §10-8-85.5) bars cities from regulating submetering or how owners allocate utility cost, so owners have real flexibility. Residents are billed for their measured use under the lease. NES installs, services, and reads the meters and bills residents across Salt Lake City and the rest of Utah.

Why Salt Lake City owners submeter

  • Residents pay for what they use, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30 percent
  • Leaks are caught early through daily meter reads
  • Costs are allocated fairly, so careful residents are not subsidizing heavy users
  • Utah law keeps cities out of submetering decisions, so your lease, not an ordinance, sets the billing
  • Most installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months

Water and sewer come from the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, electricity from Rocky Mountain Power, and natural gas from Dominion Energy Utah.

Rules & compliance

Submetering rules in Utah

Utah allows residential submetering. Under Utah HB 290 (Utah Code §10-8-85.5), municipalities cannot regulate submetering or utility cost allocation or interfere with owner-resident utility agreements, so the lease governs the billing. Utility providers are overseen by the Utah Public Service Commission.

Local rules can vary by city and county, and NES verifies the requirements for your exact address.

Official sources: Utah HB 290 (2008) · Utah Public Service Commission

General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Utah Public Service Commission or a qualified attorney.

Areas NES serves around Salt Lake City

  • Salt Lake City
  • Sandy
  • West Jordan
  • South Jordan
  • Draper
  • Herriman
Common questions

Submetering in Salt Lake City

Yes. Utah allows residential submetering, and state law (Utah HB 290, codified at Utah Code §10-8-85.5) bars cities from regulating submetering or how owners allocate utility cost, so owners have real flexibility. Residents are billed for their measured use under the lease. NES installs, services, and reads the meters and bills residents across Salt Lake City and the rest of Utah.

See what your Salt Lake City 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.

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