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RUBS Billing Method for Apartments in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, Florida

Last reviewed by Grant Forehand, Compliance Officer · September 2026

RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) divides a property's master utility bill among residents by a fair formula. Here is how it works in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties 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. NES sets up RUBS for apartment communities, condominiums, and mobile home parks across Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and the Tampa Bay area, and where RUBS is not the right fit we install submetering instead, all handled in-house since 1968.

Yes. RUBS billing is allowed in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, Florida.

Residents are billed by a fair formula and never more than the master utility bill, and NES handles it for you.

How RUBS works
  • Fair allocation formula

    RUBS divides the property's master utility bill among units by occupancy, square footage, or a blend that fits the property.

  • No submeters required

    RUBS works in older buildings where meters cannot be added, so it is fast and low cost to start.

  • Capped at the master bill

    Residents are billed only for their share, never more than the property's actual utility cost, and the bill is itemized.

Rules & compliance

Is RUBS billing allowed in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties?

Governing rule: Fla. PSC exemptions; Miami-Dade Code Ch. 8A, Art. XVIII · Florida PSC

Florida RUBS rules

  • RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) is allowed in Florida at the state level for water and sewer, and for electric with restrictions. Gas from a PSC-regulated gas utility cannot be resold or billed separately to residents (Fla. Admin. Code R. 25-7.058)
  • Miami-Dade County prohibits water RUBS: its Remetering Ordinance requires billing water on an actual submeter, so prorated or formula billing is not allowed there
  • Residents are billed by a fair allocation formula, and the total billed cannot exceed the master utility bill
  • The City of Fort Myers does not allow water RUBS, and other Florida counties and cities add their own limits, so the method has to be checked for each address
  • Where RUBS is not allowed, submetering is the compliant alternative, and NES installs and bills either way

RUBS in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties

  • Water comes from the City of Tampa, Pinellas County Utilities, and St. Petersburg, depending on the address
  • RUBS billing is allowed in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, with residents billed by a fair formula and never more than the master utility bill
  • For exact, per-unit billing, 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: Florida PSC

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

RUBS vs submetering: which fits Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties?

RUBS estimates each unit's share with a formula. Submetering measures each unit's actual use with a meter. RUBS is faster and lower cost to start and works where meters cannot be added; submetering is more precise and is required in some places. NES does both and will recommend the one that fits your property and the local rules.

Compare submetering

Submetering in nearby Florida cities

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

Common questions

RUBS billing in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties

RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System. It divides a property's master utility bill among residents using a fair formula, usually based on the number of occupants, the unit's square footage, or a blend of both. No submeters are required, which makes it a fast, low-cost way to stop absorbing utility costs. NES sets up the formula, sends resident bills, and supports residents in-house.

See what your Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties property can recover.

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

  • No-obligation custom proposal
  • Compliance check included
  • RUBS or submetering, your choice
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