Property owners gain a customizable, end-to-end solution that integrates utility infrastructure installation, maintenance, and management with unified resident billing. At the heart of NEP’s operations is a business model that converts energy management into an income-generating opportunity for multifamily owners.
Legacy utility providers and fee-based submetering companies often operate within rigid, one-size-fits-all frameworks that leave property owners footing the bill for infrastructure installation and maintenance. Fee-based submetering providers charge residents additional fees for their services. NEP challenges this outdated model with an adaptable framework built around speed, flexibility, and accuracy, designed to meet the operational and financial needs of each community.
Serving both new and existing communities, NEP’s approach brings measurable savings while introducing new revenue streams for property owners. The company enables the establishment of a commercial account for each property and installs infrastructure behind the utility provider’s master meter - often at little to no cost for owners.
“We go beyond providing access to energy. NEP is reshaping ownership, efficiency and control for property owners who have long been excluded from the value chain,” says Kit Hagen, Senior Vice President of Growth and Business Development.
Because of our unique partnership model with communities, we are jointly incented to provide high levels of accuracy and quality.
Transforming Utilities into a Value-Added System
Exclusively focused on the multifamily housing sector for more than 25 years, NEP delivers a level of customization and responsiveness for the sector that traditional utilities and submetering firms can’t match. The company designs and installs complete electric infrastructure systems - submeters, transformers, conduits, switchgear, and wiring - placed behind the host utility’s master meter.
“We don’t just do metering; we privatize the full electric infrastructure footprint. That’s quite a bit different than what you see in the industry and affords several unique advantages,” Hagen said. “By privatizing the electric infrastructure, the community - not the utility - is in control of their energy destiny and that control creates unique economic and operational advantages.”
Historically, for example, property owners have lacked insight into utility usage because it was controlled by the host utility, making it difficult to benchmark against ENERGY STAR ratings or qualify for green loans. NEP’s model changes that, providing comprehensive visibility into consumption patterns across entire communities.
NEP’s data-driven reporting tool, ApartmentFactsTM extends that transparency by offering current and potential renters detailed historical electric and water use for any unit, helping potential residents understand the true cost of living and make more well-informed choices.
The privately owned infrastructure gives property owners greater control and flexibility, enabling quick modifications or upgrades without the typical host utility delays. Whether relocating transformers, adding EV charging stations, or integrating solar panels, owners can act independently, improving both operational speed and sustainability outcomes.
In one development, a host utility required a developer to purchase a specialized underwater transformer - nearly 10 times the cost of a standard unit - due to a floodplain location. NEP redesigned the infrastructure, relocating most transformers outside the zone and mounting the remaining units on raised platforms, allowing use of standard transformers and generating major cost savings.
Service That Goes Beyond the Meter
Unlike traditional submetering firms, NEP manages and maintains the utility infrastructure at no additional cost to owners or residents for the duration of the contract. Whether it’s a faulty meter or transformer issue, NEP’s team quickly assesses and resolves problems to keep the system running efficiently.
The company’s success is evidenced in its 99% meter read accuracy and 99% contract renewal rate.
“Because of our unique partnership model with communities, we are jointly incented to provide high levels of accuracy and quality, and this is reflected in our meter read rate and contract renewal rate, but it also extends to rate accuracy and better resident education, as well,” said Hagen.
That commitment is backed by a unique guarantee: if a billing discrepancy is found, residents receive 110% of the error difference - a level of transparency that reinforces long-term trust.
Proven Innovation, Real World Results
At its core, NEP is more than a service provider - it is a people-driven organization focused exclusively on the multifamily sector. Every client and resident interaction is designed to be consistent, responsive, and value focused.
“We are all about the multifamily environment. It is our sole focus and that enables us to uniquely solve for the complexities and nuances in ways traditional utilities and fee-based submeter providers cannot,” Hagen said.
In one case, a community serviced by another submetering company faced mounting issues as 60% of its aging meters had failed. Residents received estimated bills, and the property owner absorbed the energy cost gap for common areas. NEP replaced the existing meters at no cost, restored billing accuracy, and reduced common area expenses by 30%.
From Vision to Impact
NEP’s story began in the 1990’s in Ohio, when an apartment developer faced unexpected utility costs after state deregulation shifted infrastructure expenses to property owners. Rather than accept those costs, he created a new model - one where the property owner could invest in, own, and benefit from the energy infrastructure.
That pioneering concept became Nationwide Energy Partners. The company’s privatization approach quickly gained traction among other owners, expanding beyond the founder’s properties to serve developers across the Midwest and beyond. Over time, NEP expanded their offering to include water submetering and demand management technologies that detect leaks and equipment failures in real time.
Over the years, the company has achieved remarkable growth, building on its long-standing expertise in energy management, as well as operations and maintenance. Its offerings have expanded to include advanced water heater management solutions that can detect leaks and heating element failures, enhancing efficiency, reliability, and customers satisfaction.
For instance, if a water heater malfunctions, NEP’s sensors can detect the issue and alert maintenance teams immediately, reducing response time and protecting valuable assets. A digital dashboard provides detailed diagnostic data so property managers can address problems before they escalate.
As artificial intelligence and anomaly detection evolve, NEP is building a smarter ecosystem to automate operations and maintenance across the communities it serves. Smart thermostats and advanced data analytics are already in development, aimed at driving even greater efficiency and resident satisfaction.
Today, NEP operates in Ohio and some of the nation’s top residential markets, including Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and New York.
NEP is reshaping the future of multifamily energy management — one community at a time. With a model grounded in innovation, transparency, and partnership, NEP continues to set a new standard for what’s possible in the industry. That’s why Energy Business Review proudly names Nationwide Energy Partners our 2025 Electric and Water Submetering Company of the Year.
As energy infrastructure rapidly evolves, NEP’s commitment to technology, accountability, and partnership ensures it remains at the forefront of the multifamily energy transformation, powering a future where efficiency, transparency, and value align for everyone involved.
