Submetering Apartments in Alabama
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
NES submeters apartment communities across Alabama, handling the install, daily reads, resident billing, and support in-house.
NES submeters apartment communities in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, and other cities across Alabama. Alabama has no statewide statute governing owner billing through submeters, which gives owners real flexibility. The lease language and local rules still matter, and our team handles both.
Is submetering apartments legal in Alabama?
Yes. Residential water, electric, and gas submetering are all legal in Alabama. The Alabama Public Service Commission regulates utilities that serve the public (Ala. Code § 37-4-1), and no Alabama statute is aimed at property owners who bill their own residents through submeters, so owners have flexibility as long as the lease is clear and meters are accurate. NES tracks every requirement so your property stays compliant.
Why apartment owners in Alabama submeter
- Residents pay for what their unit uses, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30 percent.
- Leaks get caught fast instead of showing up on the next month's bill.
- Common-area water is measured and billed accurately, not absorbed by the owner.
- Most apartment installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months.
What submetering is
Submetering puts a meter on each apartment and bills residents for the water, gas, and electric they actually use. The idea has been around since the 1920s. Today’s meters read wirelessly every day, so usage is accurate and leaks show up fast instead of on the next bill.
Apartment submetering rules in Alabama
Alabama's utility statutes cover companies that serve the public (Ala. Code § 37-4-1), not owners billing their own residents through submeters, so owners have flexibility. The lease should state the billing terms clearly, meters should meet recognized accuracy standards, and local rules still need a check.
- Residential water, electric, and gas submetering are all legal in Alabama, and sewer and trash can be billed individually too
- Alabama's utility statutes define a utility as one furnishing service to or for the public (Ala. Code § 37-4-1), and no state statute is aimed at property owners who bill their own residents through submeters
- With no statewide billing statute, the billing terms, including any service or administrative fee, are set by the lease, so the lease should state them clearly
- Submeters should meet recognized accuracy standards
- NES tracks the current Alabama requirements so your property stays compliant
Local rules can vary by city and county, and some cities set their own requirements, which NES verifies for your exact address.
Official sources: Ala. Code § 37-4-1 (utility definitions) · Alabama PSC
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Alabama PSC or a qualified attorney.
Cities NES submeters apartments in Alabama
- Birmingham
- Montgomery
- Huntsville
NES serves communities across Alabama. If your city is not listed, we very likely cover it.
Properties NES submeters
- Apartment communities
- Condominiums
- Townhomes
- Mobile home parks
- Student housing
- New construction and existing properties
NES specializes in multifamily properties with 80 or more units.
Submetering apartments in Alabama
See what your Alabama apartments 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.