Submetering Natural Gas
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Put a gas meter on each unit so residents pay for the gas they actually burn.
Can you submeter natural gas in an apartment building?
In many states, yes. Where the local rules allow it, gas submetering puts a meter on the gas line for each unit so residents are billed for the gas they actually use instead of the owner covering one building bill. The best spot is the incoming gas line for the unit. Where that is not possible, meters can go on specific appliances like a heater or water heater. NES reads the meters and bills each resident for their own usage. The result is straightforward: once residents pay for their own gas, they conserve, and the owner's gas expense drops sharply. Gas submetering usually pays for itself in 12 to 18 months. Where individual gas meters are not practical, NES can allocate gas cost with a ratio or formula-based method instead. We specialize in properties with 80 or more units and work across more than 43 states.
Where the gas meter goes
The ideal place for a gas submeter is the incoming gas line for each unit, so it captures everything that unit burns. In older or shared layouts where that is not an option, meters can be placed on individual gas appliances, such as a furnace or water heater, to track their use. A site survey tells you which approach fits your building.
Why owners submeter gas
- Residents who pay for their own gas use less of it
- The owner's gas expense drops to common areas only
- Billing is based on real meter reads, not a flat split
- Most installs pay for themselves in 12 to 18 months
Related questions
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