Submetering Utilities
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Water, gas, and electric can all be measured and billed per unit. Here is how it works.
Which utilities can be submetered and how does it work?
Submetering means measuring and billing residents for the utility they use over a set period. A separate meter goes in between the master meter and each unit, and residents are usually billed monthly for what they used. The utilities most often submetered are water, gas, and electric. Water is by far the most common because it is usually a property's largest controllable expense, but gas and electric can be submetered too. NES installs the meters, takes wireless daily reads, bills residents, and provides phone and email support through an in-house bilingual team. We work in 43+ states for properties with 80 or more units. Not every state, county, or city allows submetering, and the rules change often, so NES checks and monitors the regulations for each property we serve. When residents pay for their own use, water consumption typically drops 15 to 30 percent.
The three utilities owners submeter
- Water and sewer: the most common, because it is usually the biggest controllable cost, and savings of 15 to 30 percent are typical.
- Gas: measured per unit so heating and hot water cost follows the resident who used it.
- Electric: a meter on each unit's line splits the main bill by actual use instead of leaving it on the owner.
What NES does each month
Submetering is not a one-time install, it is ongoing. NES installs the meters, takes wireless daily reads, calculates each unit's bill, and sends it to residents. Our in-house bilingual team answers resident and manager questions by phone and email, and MyReads flags possible leaks daily so problems get caught early.
Related questions
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