Submetering in South Carolina
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
South Carolina courts confirmed in 2026 that at-cost water and sewer submetering and billing is not regulated utility service, while electric and gas submetering are not allowed in the state. Here is how it works and the cities NES serves.
Submetering is common across South Carolina, and NES runs it end to end. We install nonproprietary meters that you own, read them every day, pay the master-meter bill, and bill your residents. Our compliance team tracks the South Carolina rules, set by the Public Service Commission of SC, so your billing holds up if anyone ever checks it. NES has worked this way since 1968, in more than 43 states.
Yes. Submetering is allowed in South Carolina, with some restrictions.
A 2026 South Carolina Court of Appeals decision, which the state Supreme Court declined to review, confirmed that owners who pass water and sewer costs through at cost are not public utilities, so PSC rate approval does not apply. Electric and gas submetering are not allowed in South Carolina, so billing programs here cover water and sewer. NES handles the billing for you.
What submetering is
Submetering puts a meter on each unit 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.
Why owners in South Carolina submeter
- Residents pay for what they use, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30%.
- Leaks are caught within a day, not at the end of the month.
- Common-area usage is measured and billed accurately, not absorbed by the owner.
- Most installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months.
Submetering laws and rules in South Carolina
- Owners who bill residents for water and sewer at cost are not public utilities under South Carolina law, per a 2026 Court of Appeals decision (Zito v. Strata Audubon)
- Electric and gas submetering and RUBS are not allowed in South Carolina, so resident billing programs here cover water and sewer
- A few cities set their own limits: Greenville (a Greenville Water rule that also reaches Mauldin, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest, and Fountain Inn) and West Columbia do not allow submetered or RUBS water billing, and Rock Hill requires city approval
- No PSC certification or registration is required; the PSC dropped its submeterer certification plan in 2003 and the courts have upheld that
- The resident's lease should allow utility billing, and residents are billed for their measured usage
- Submeters must be accurate, and bills must clearly state the charges
- NES tracks the current South Carolina 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: SC Office of Regulatory Staff · Public Service Commission of SC · Zito v. Strata Audubon (S.C. Ct. App. 2026)
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the Public Service Commission of SC or a qualified attorney.
NES submetering by city in South Carolina
Local submetering guides for South Carolina communities NES serves.
Submetering in South Carolina
See what your South Carolina 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.