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The Future of Submetering: Wireless Submetering

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

Wireless submetering reads and bills water usage remotely across a portfolio, so owners manage utilities without manual meter reads.

Typical water savings
15-30%Typical water savings
Typical payback
~12 moTypical payback
Meter reads
DailyMeter reads
States served
43+States served
Quick answer

What is wireless submetering?

Wireless submetering means the meters are read and billed remotely, with no one walking the property. Each unit's meter sends its reading wirelessly to a gateway. The gateway uploads it, and the billing platform turns it into a resident bill. Compare that to the old model, where a person physically read every meter once a month and billing ran on month-old numbers. The remote model reads every meter every day, which makes bills exact and surfaces leaks within a day instead of a billing cycle. For owners with buildings in several cities, it also means one platform runs utility billing for the whole portfolio. NES already works this way, with daily wireless reads and in-house resident billing across more than 43 states.

Understanding wireless submetering

Wireless means the reading and billing happen off site, but the hardware is real: a meter on each unit, wireless repeaters, and a gateway. What disappears is the manual work. No meter walks, no clipboard data entry, no estimated bills when a reader cannot get into a unit. The reads arrive daily on their own, and the billing runs on actual usage.

Why it matters for owners

  • Meters are read remotely, so there is no manual monthly read
  • Daily usage data makes billing accurate and surfaces leaks early
  • One platform manages utilities across a whole portfolio
  • Residents are billed for exactly what they use, which encourages conservation

Not sure submetering fits your property?

Start with a free assessment. Send NES your master-meter bills and unit count, and the team will confirm feasibility, estimate your return, and recommend the right method for your property, with no obligation.

Common questions

The Future of Submetering: Wireless Submetering

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, and today's meters read wirelessly every day, so usage is accurate and leaks show up fast instead of on the next bill.

See what your 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.

Free assessment

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