Submetering Equipment
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Submetering equipment is the meters, transmitters, and gateways that measure each unit's use and report it wirelessly for billing.
What equipment does submetering use?
Submetering equipment includes the meter on each unit, a wireless transmitter that sends the reading, and a gateway or repeater that collects readings and sends them to the billing platform. Water, gas, and electric each use their own meter type. Modern equipment reports several times a day, so billing is accurate and leaks surface fast. NES sells and services nonproprietary equipment, which means the meters are not locked to one vendor and another company could read them. NES can supply the equipment for your plumber to install, or install it with in-house technicians.
The main parts
- A submeter on each unit, sized for water, gas, or electric
- A wireless transmitter that sends each reading
- A gateway or repeater that collects and uploads readings
- The billing platform that turns readings into resident bills
Nonproprietary and warrantied
NES installs nonproprietary meters that you own, backed by a warranty. Because the equipment is not locked to one vendor, you keep flexibility and are never trapped with a single provider.
Brands NES is authorized to resell
NES is an authorized dealer for the top submetering equipment brands, including Badger, Cereniti, MasterMeter, Neptune, NextCentury, Norgas, Sensus, Inovonics, and Leviton. Buying through an authorized reseller matters: it is how you know the equipment is genuine, properly warrantied, and supported by the manufacturer.
How to judge a piece of submetering equipment
- Accuracy and reliability: cheap meters usually have a much shorter trouble-free life than brand-name meters
- Compatibility: the meter has to fit your existing plumbing or wiring, and the space available for it
- Serviceability: batteries and parts should be easy to reach when they need replacement
- Features: daily monitoring, alerts, and reporting help you manage usage and catch leaks
Equipment is only half the job
Submetering regulations change frequently and vary by state and county, and they cover the equipment itself: how meters are installed, maintained, and verified for accuracy. NES provides submetering equipment and billing services in more than 43 states, specializes in properties with 80 or more multifamily units, and monitors the regulations daily for the communities it serves.
What the equipment earns back
The hardware pays for itself through what it measures. Once residents are billed on their own readings, water consumption typically drops 15 to 30 percent, leaks show up in the daily data instead of on the master bill, and common-area use can be measured separately. Most properties earn back the equipment and install in 12 to 18 months, and the lower utility expense improves cash flow from then on.
Related questions
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