Is RUBS billing legal in Ohio?

RUBS for water is generally allowed in Ohio, with bills clearly showing the method, though some cities such as Cleveland restrict it. For electricity, an April 2026 Ohio Supreme Court ruling put third-party resale to residents under PUCO regulation, and the commission is still working out the details. NES bills at the utility's own rate with no markup and handles RUBS or submetering, whichever fits your property.

Why does NES recommend submetering in Cleveland?

Because RUBS is not allowed in Cleveland, submetering is the compliant way to bill residents. It measures each unit's actual use with a meter. NES installs nonproprietary submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills residents in-house with bilingual support.

How much does submetering cost, and what is the ROI?

Most submetering installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months through the utility cost you recover. We will run the numbers on your actual master-meter bills and unit count, then send a clear, no-obligation estimate.

Will I be locked into NES equipment?

No. NES installs nonproprietary submeters that other companies can read, with extended warranties available. You are never locked in.

RUBS Billing in Cleveland Is Not Permitted

Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026

RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) is not permitted for electric, gas, or water in Cleveland rentals. City code requires a meter or submeter that measures each unit's own use, and NES installs and bills it for you.

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RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System, a formula that divides a property’s master utility bill among residents. In Cleveland, RUBS is not allowed, so submetering, which measures each unit’s actual use, is the compliant way to bill residents. NES installs and operates submetering for apartment communities, condominiums, and mobile home parks across Cleveland and the Cleveland area, all in-house since 1968.

RUBS billing is not permitted in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cleveland's landlord-tenant code (Section 375.05) makes the landlord pay for a unit's electric, gas, and water unless a meter or submeter measures just that unit and the lease clearly passes through only the metered cost. Submetering meets that test, and NES installs and bills it for you.

See submetering for Cleveland

Why submetering in Cleveland

Measures actual use
Submetering puts a meter on each unit and bills residents for exactly what they use.
Compliant in Cleveland
Where RUBS is not allowed, submetering is the path that meets the local rules.
NES handles it end to end
NES installs the submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills your residents in-house.

Rules & compliance

Is RUBS billing allowed in Cleveland?

Governing rule: Ohio Rev. Code Title 49 (third-party electricity resale regulated) · PUCO

Ohio RUBS rules

RUBS for water is generally allowed in Ohio, with no statewide prohibition, and bills must clearly show the method
In April 2026 the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in Ohio Power Co. v. Nationwide Energy Partners that a third-party company reselling electricity to residents is a public utility subject to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which is still working out the details
NES bills residents at the utility's own rate with no markup on the energy
Some cities restrict RUBS. Cleveland's landlord-tenant code bars billing a tenant for electric, gas, or water without a meter that measures just their unit, so the method has to be checked for each address
Where exact, per-unit billing is the goal, submetering is the alternative

Utility billing in Cleveland

Cleveland Codified Ordinances 375.05 requires the landlord to pay for a unit's electric, gas, and water unless the unit has its own meter or submeter
That rules out RUBS-style allocation billing for those utilities in Cleveland rentals
Submetering is permitted when the lease clearly states the tenant pays only the metered cost and can access the meter to read it
Water and sewer are provided by Cleveland Water and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
NES installs the submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills residents in-house

Official sources: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio · Ohio Power Co. v. Nationwide Energy Partners, 2026-Ohio-1406 · Ohio Consumers' Counsel: Submetering · Cleveland Codified Ordinances 375.05

General information only, not legal advice; NES assumes no liability for reliance. Confirm current rules with the PUCO or a qualified attorney.

Submetering is the path in Cleveland

RUBS is not allowed in Cleveland, so submetering is the compliant way to bill residents. Submetering measures each unit's actual use with a meter. NES installs the submeters, reads them, pays the master-meter bill, and bills your residents in-house.

See submetering in Cleveland

Submetering in nearby Ohio cities

NES installs and runs submetering across Ohio. See the rules and results for other communities we serve.

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