-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RfnpkpYQGQVLSIF2zLH8JSlVwdA2B5S4xRym0x2fypYpWBnilUK6Jb8/4aXN45bP
 Nbfjkz8ILOq6fZtFqGYKQw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000909450-05-000130.txt : 20050902
<SEC-HEADER>0000909450-05-000130.hdr.sgml : 20050902
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050902211128
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000909450-05-000130
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000882154
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				841169358
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 EAST 17TH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 660
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3035925555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 EAST 17TH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 660
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MARCUM NATURAL GAS SERVICES INC/NEW
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRUBER & MCBAINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000909450

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12014
		FILM NUMBER:		051068971

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 OSGOOD PLACE PENTHOUSE
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4159811039

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 OSGOOD PLACE
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94133

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GRUBER & MCBAINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT/GRUBER JON D ET AL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882154</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METRETEK TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000909450</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRUBER &amp; MCBAINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 OSGOOD PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>79364</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>74564</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>923312</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnership and Investment Advisory Accounts</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This form is filed by Gruber &amp; McBaine Capital Management, LLC (GMCM), a limited liability company that is an investment adviser for client accounts and a general partner of investment limited partnerships; Jon D. Gruber (Gruber) and J. Patterson McBaine (McBaine), who are managers, members and portfolio managers of GMCM; Eric B Swergold (Swergold) who is a member and portfolio manager of GMCM, and J. Lynn Rose (Rose) who is a member and portfolio advisor of GMCM.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">By Gruber.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">By McBaine.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This total is the number of shares beneficially owned after the transactions reported in accounts and investment partnerships in which the reporting persons have some pecuniary interest; the total excludes shares held in other client accounts managed by GMCM in which the reporting persons have no pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">By GMCM, as an investment adviser for client accounts and a general partner of investment partnerships, and by Gruber and McBaine as managers, members and portfolio managers of GMCM, and by Swergold as a member and portfolio manager of GMCM and Rose as a member and portfolio advisor of GMCM. GMCM, Gruber, McBaine, Swergold and Rose have pecuniary interest in those client accounts and partnerships that in the aggregate represent less than the total number of shares shown in Items 4 and 5. Each such reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities with respect to which indirect beneficial ownership is reported, except to the extent of that reporting persons pro rata pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GRUBER &amp; MCBAINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC  By:	/s/ J. Patterson McBaine, J. Patterson McBaine, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jon D. Gruber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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