Submetering Power
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Meter each unit's electricity so residents pay for the power they use.
What is electric submetering for apartments?
Submetering power means putting an individual electric meter on each unit so residents are billed for the electricity they actually use, instead of the owner paying one building bill. It can also meter specific systems, like HVAC or lighting, so you can see where power goes and find efficiency improvements. The benefit is the same as with water and gas: when residents pay for their own use, they use less, and the owner stops absorbing the cost. NES installs the meters, reads them, bills residents, and provides support. One thing to know up front is that electric submetering carries more rules than water or gas. Some states require approval before you can bill residents for electricity. NES tracks those rules and sets billing up correctly. We focus on properties with 80 or more units across more than 43 states.
Two ways to use electric submetering
- Bill each unit for its own electricity instead of splitting one master bill
- Meter systems like HVAC or lighting to find where power is wasted
- Use the data to target efficiency upgrades and cut building energy cost
Electric carries extra rules
Electric submetering is more regulated than water or gas. Some states require the owner to be approved before billing residents for electricity, and many cap what you can charge. NES has an in-house compliance team that tracks these rules state by state and sets up billing to match, so you stay compliant from the first bill.
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Thinking about submetering your property?
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