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RUBS Billing for Apartments in Greenville Is Not Permitted

Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026

RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) is not permitted in the City of Greenville, and neither is submetered water billing. Here is what that means for owners and what NES can do in the rest of Greenville County.

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

RUBS billing is not allowed in the City of Greenville, South Carolina.

The City of Greenville does not allow RUBS or submetered water billing inside the city limits. NES does not set up resident utility billing there, but we do serve the rest of Greenville County and the Upstate and can review what the rules allow for your address.

See submetering for Greenville
Why submetering in Greenville
  • Measures actual use

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

  • Compliant in Greenville

    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 Greenville?

Governing rule: SC PSC & ORS oversight · SC PSC / ORS

South Carolina RUBS rules

  • RUBS for water and sewer is allowed in South Carolina, and a 2026 Court of Appeals decision upheld it: owners who allocate water and sewer costs at cost by occupancy or square footage are not public utilities (Zito v. Strata Audubon)
  • Electric and gas RUBS and submetering are not allowed in South Carolina, so allocation billing here covers water and sewer
  • A few cities set their own limits: Greenville and West Columbia do not allow RUBS or submetered water billing inside city limits, and Rock Hill requires city approval
  • Residents are billed by a fair allocation formula, and the total cannot exceed the master utility bill
  • The lease should allow utility billing, and water and wastewater service is overseen by the Public Service Commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff
  • Where exact, per-unit billing is the goal, submetering is the alternative

Utility billing in Greenville

  • The City of Greenville does not allow RUBS or submetered water billing inside the city limits
  • Water is provided by Greenville Water, electricity by Duke Energy, and natural gas by Piedmont Natural Gas
  • Electric and gas RUBS are not allowed anywhere in South Carolina
  • Outside the city limits, South Carolina allows water and sewer RUBS and submetering, and NES serves Greer, Mauldin, Simpsonville, Travelers Rest, and Fountain Inn
  • NES verifies the rules for your exact address before we start

Official sources: SC Office of Regulatory Staff · Public Service Commission of SC

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

Submetering is the path in Greenville

RUBS is not allowed in Greenville, 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 Greenville

Submetering in nearby South Carolina cities

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

Common questions

RUBS billing in Greenville

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 Greenville property can recover.

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

  • No-obligation custom proposal
  • Compliance check included
  • Submetering install and billing
Get a free bid (800) 572-7060
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