Utility Submetering for Apartments
Last reviewed September 2026NES Editorial, checked by the Billing & Compliance team
Utility submetering puts a meter on each apartment for water, gas, and electric, so residents pay for what they use and the owner recovers the cost.
- Typical water savings
- 15-30%Typical water savings
- Typical payback
- ~12 moTypical payback
- Meter reads
- DailyMeter reads
- States served
- 43+States served
What is utility submetering for apartments?
Utility submetering installs equipment that measures and bills each apartment's water and sewer, gas, and electric use. Residents pay for what they actually consume, which usually cuts water use 15 to 30 percent, catches leaks early, and lets the owner recover operating expense instead of absorbing it. Most properties earn back the cost in 12 to 18 months.
What utility submetering is
Utility submetering installs a meter on each unit to measure and bill its water and sewer, gas, and electric use. Submetering has been used since the 1920s, and today's wireless meters read daily, so usage is accurate and leaks show up fast.
The benefits for apartment owners
- Water consumption typically drops 15 to 30 percent once residents pay for their use
- Leaks are caught early through daily reads
- Common-area usage is measured and billed accurately
- Submetering can raise the value of an apartment community or mobile home park
- Most properties earn back the cost in 12 to 18 months, and some sooner
What types of property can be submetered
All types of real estate can be submetered. NES serves new construction and existing properties, those with meters in place and those that need equipment, and specializes in properties with 80 or more multifamily units.
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.
Utility Submetering for Apartments
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.