How is resident usage calculated, and what rate is charged?

Usage is the difference between the prior and current meter read, taken from a meter read system rather than averages or estimates. Electric usage is billed in kilowatt hours and water in gallons or cubic feet, and metered services are charged at public rates. Where individual meters cannot be installed, residents may instead pay a flat water and sewer rate based on total community usage.

Why does a resident bill show multiple usage line items?

Each line with a meter number and an actual usage figure is a separate utility the company bills for at that property — electric and water, for example. They are combined onto one bill for ease of payment.

What processing fees apply to resident payments?

ACH electronic bank transfers carry a $2.00 processing fee. Credit and debit card payments carry a 3.75% processing fee with a $3.00 minimum per transaction. Autopay set up after the 8th of the month begins the following month, and autopay withdraws four days before the stated due date.

Submetering & billing

SubMeter Solutions

Submeter Solutions designs submetering systems, supplies the meters and automatic meter reading equipment, and bills residents for the utilities those meters record. It works with property owners, managers and developers across multifamily, HOA and commercial properties.

A project runs in five steps: the system is designed around the property's layout and utility needs; utility-grade meters and AMR systems are supplied pre-configured; installation is done do-it-yourself, by the owner's own contractor, or by the company's licensed technicians; monthly remote reads feed an online reporting portal; and billing services issue resident utility statements by mail or email with configurable collections handling.

The company was founded in 2001 supplying premium utility meters and expanded into full-service utility management. In 2025 it joined Pioneer Energy Management and now trades as "Submeter Solutions powered by PEM." It reports servicing more than 2,000 properties, 250K+ meters installed and 125K+ under management, and 4.5B+ gallons of water managed annually, with 22 years in business and service in all 50 states with no unit minimum.

Resident-facing billing questions go to the same support desk, which is worth knowing before you hand billing over: your residents will be calling the vendor, not your office. Check which utilities are legal to submeter in your state before designing the system.

Best for

Property owners, managers and developers who want meters, monthly reads and resident utility billing from one vendor, with no minimum unit count. Owners who want to keep resident billing questions in-house should look elsewhere.

What they do

Water submetering
Electric submetering
Gas submetering
Submetering system design
Utility-grade meter and AMR equipment sales
Monthly remote meter reads and online reporting
Resident utility billing and statements
Collections management
Installation by licensed technicians, your contractor, or DIY

Details

Attribute	Value
Founded	2001
Ownership	Subsidiary
How they charge	No published rate card; the company says it serves all 50 states with no unit minimum and quotes each property after a consultation.

What stands out

Founded in 2001 and joined the Pioneer Energy Management group in 2025.
Reports servicing more than 2,000 properties and managing 4.5B+ gallons of water annually.
Says it has installed more than 250K meters and currently manages more than 125K.
Serves clients in all 50 states with no unit minimum.

Common questions

How is resident usage calculated, and what rate is charged?: Usage is the difference between the prior and current meter read, taken from a meter read system rather than averages or estimates. Electric usage is billed in kilowatt hours and water in gallons or cubic feet, and metered services are charged at public rates. Where individual meters cannot be installed, residents may instead pay a flat water and sewer rate based on total community usage.
Why does a resident bill show multiple usage line items?: Each line with a meter number and an actual usage figure is a separate utility the company bills for at that property — electric and water, for example. They are combined onto one bill for ease of payment.
What processing fees apply to resident payments?: ACH electronic bank transfers carry a $2.00 processing fee. Credit and debit card payments carry a 3.75% processing fee with a $3.00 minimum per transaction. Autopay set up after the 8th of the month begins the following month, and autopay withdraws four days before the stated due date.