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RUBS Billing Method for Apartments in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Last reviewed by Grant Forehand, Compliance Officer · September 2026

RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) divides a property's master water bill among residents by a fair formula. Here is how it works in Allegheny County and what the rules require.

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RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System, a formula that divides a property’s master utility bill among residents. In Allegheny County, 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 Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh area, all in-house since 1968.

RUBS billing is allowed in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with restrictions.

Residents are billed by a fair formula within PUC limits, and NES handles it for you.

See submetering for Allegheny County
Why submetering in Allegheny County
  • Measures actual use

    Submetering puts a meter on each unit and bills residents for exactly what they use.

  • Compliant in Allegheny County

    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 Allegheny County?

Governing rule: 66 Pa.C.S. § 1313 price cap (no PUC license for water) · PA PUC

Pennsylvania RUBS rules

  • RUBS for water is allowed in Pennsylvania, with residents billed by a fair allocation formula such as square footage or occupancy
  • Electric RUBS and electric submetering are generally not available in Pennsylvania. The serving utility's PUC-approved tariff controls, and most tariffs only permit submetering in buildings whose electric service was installed before 1980, and a waiver is needed before billing
  • Pennsylvania caps resold utility bills: a resident cannot be billed more than the utility would charge them directly (66 Pa.C.S. § 1313)
  • If a resident is billed directly by the utility, each unit is individually metered with no foreign load
  • Where exact, per-unit billing is the goal, submetering is the alternative

RUBS in Allegheny County

  • Water comes from Pittsburgh Water (PWSA) and municipal authorities, electricity from Duquesne Light, and natural gas from Peoples Natural Gas
  • RUBS for water is allowed in Allegheny County, with residents billed by a fair formula and never more than the master utility bill
  • Electric RUBS is generally not available in Pennsylvania; the serving utility's tariff controls, and most only allow submetering in pre-1980 buildings
  • For exact, per-unit billing, water submetering is available as an alternative, and NES installs and bills either way
  • NES verifies the rules for your exact address before we start

Official sources: Pennsylvania PUC

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

Submetering is the path in Allegheny County

RUBS is not allowed in Allegheny County, 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 Allegheny County

Submetering in nearby Pennsylvania cities

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

Common questions

RUBS billing in Allegheny County

RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System, a formula that divides a property's master utility bill among residents. It is not allowed everywhere, and where it is prohibited, submetering is used instead to bill residents for their actual use.

See what your Allegheny County property can recover.

Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll model submetering for your Allegheny County property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.

  • No-obligation custom proposal
  • Compliance check included
  • Submetering install and billing
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