Can a submeter be reset?

No. Submeters are sealed measuring devices with no user reset, and tampering with one is a lease and often a utility violation. If a read looks wrong, the property calls its submetering company; NES sends a technician and bills from verified reads while the fix is under way.

How do I know if a submeter is defective?

A unit reading zero while occupied, a read that never changes, a read far out of line with similar units, or a leak alert with no visible leak. NES's daily reads flag each of those automatically and open a service ticket.

Who pays for a broken submeter?

The property owner, since the owner owns the meter. On meters under an NES Meter Care warranty, the replacement is covered. Residents are never charged for equipment, and a unit with a failed meter is billed from actual reads once the meter is back, not from a guess.

Can NES take over from my current provider?

Yes. We can become your new billing partner, work with equipment already in place, and clean up existing billing issues.

What happens when a meter fails?

Our service team replaces it so accurate reads resume. Equipment you buy from us also carries a warranty.

Submetering 101

Fixing Common Submetering Issues

Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team

Failing meters, billing headaches, and resident complaints are all fixable, often by switching partners.

Quick answer

What do I do about submetering problems at my property?

The most common submetering issues fall into two buckets: meters that stop reporting usage, and billing that is messy or generating resident complaints. NES handles both. Our service team replaces failing meters so reads come back online, and we can take over billing from your current provider to clean up errors and answer resident questions through our in-house bilingual support team. You do not have to start from scratch. We can work with equipment already in place and step in as your new billing partner. Going forward, daily wireless reads and MyReads leak detection catch problems early, before they turn into a wave of disputed bills. NES installs and manages submetering for multifamily properties with 80 or more units across more than 43 states, with a compliance team that keeps your billing within state and local rules.

Why a submeter stops working

Dead transmitter battery: most wireless submeters run on a sealed battery rated for 10 to 20 years, and a unit that suddenly reads zero has usually hit the end of it. The meter body still measures; the read just stops reaching the gateway
Lost signal: a repeater or gateway that lost power, moved, or got boxed in by a renovation drops a whole block of units at once
Stuck or fouled register: sediment or a failed magnetic coupling makes the meter read low or flat while water still flows
Plumbing changes: a water heater swap or a re-pipe that bypassed the meter puts a unit's usage on the common meter
A meter cannot be reset by the resident or the property. If a read looks wrong, the fix is a technician check, a replacement register or battery, or a new meter, and NES bills from actual reads in the meantime rather than estimates

Meters that stopped reporting

When meters fail, reads stop and billing falls back on estimates, which residents notice. Our service team diagnoses and replaces failing meters so accurate reads come back. Because our equipment is nonproprietary, we can often work with what is already installed rather than ripping everything out.

Preventing the next round of issues

Daily wireless reads instead of monthly guesses.
MyReads leak detection that flags spikes early.
Meter warranties and a service team for replacements.
One in-house team accountable for reads, billing, and support.

Thinking about submetering your property?

NES installs the meters, reads them, and bills your residents, in-house since 1968. Send your property details for a free, no-obligation estimate.

(800) 572-7060

Prefer a form? Open the quote page.

Common questions