Utility submetering puts a meter on each unit that measures and bills its water/sewer 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.
When residents pay for what they actually use, they cut back. Most properties see 15 to 30 percent lower water use. Daily reads also catch leaks early, and common-area water stops getting spread across everyone's rent. Payback usually lands within 12 to 18 months.
For water, yes. Illinois has no statute written just for water submetering, so the lease sets the terms, and when an owner splits a master-metered bill the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 740/5) requires a written allocation formula, a total no higher than the utility's bill, and a copy of the bill on request. Electricity is different: ComEd and Ameren Illinois tariffs prohibit reselling or redistributing power to residents, apart from narrow grandfathered buildings, and buildings permitted since November 1, 1981 need a utility meter in each unit. The major gas utilities' tariffs prohibit gas submetering too. From January 1, 2027, any required fee must appear on the first page of the lease. NES tracks every requirement so your property stays compliant.
Illinois has no statute written just for water submetering, so the lease sets the terms. When an owner splits a master-metered utility bill among residents, the Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 740/5) requires the allocation formula in writing, in the lease or a separate agreement, covering everyone who uses the service. The total can't exceed the utility's bill, and residents can ask for a copy of it. Utility service itself in Springfield falls under the Illinois Commerce Commission. NES tracks the current Illinois and local requirements for your address, so billing is set up to match the rule.
Water and electricity are provided by City Water, Light and Power (CWLP), the municipal utility. NES works with whichever provider serves your property, installs the submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills your residents in-house across the Springfield area.
Most submetering installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months through the utility cost you recover. We'll run the numbers on your actual master-meter bills and unit count, then send you an estimate. You are not signing anything.
No. NES installs nonproprietary meters that other companies can read, The meters are yours, and extended warranties are available if you want one.