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RUBS Billing Method for Apartments in Las Cruces, New Mexico

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 Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces and the Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Residents are billed by a fair formula, 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 Las Cruces?

Governing rule: NMPRC regulates utilities, not landlord billing · New Mexico PRC

New Mexico RUBS rules

  • RUBS and submetering are both permitted in New Mexico
  • The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission regulates public utilities, and state law excludes an owner who furnishes service only to their own tenants from the public utility definition (NMSA 62-3-4)
  • Residents are billed by a fair allocation formula, and NES never bills more in total than the master utility bill
  • State landlord-tenant law entitles residents to a copy of the utility bills being apportioned on request, with the owner's fee for those copies capped at $5 per monthly request (NMSA 47-8-20)
  • When common-area utility costs are split among units, the share an empty unit would carry if it were occupied cannot be passed on to the other residents, and residents can see the calculation on request (NMSA 47-8-20(F))
  • Since June 2025, rental listings must itemize every fee charged during the residency, and raising a fee requires 60 days' written notice (NMSA 47-8-19.1 and 47-8-19.4)
  • Where exact, per-unit billing is the goal, submetering is the alternative

RUBS in Las Cruces

  • Water is provided by Las Cruces Utilities, and electricity by El Paso Electric
  • RUBS billing is allowed in Las Cruces, 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: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission · NMSA 62-3-4, public utility exceptions · NMSA 47-8-20, Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act

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

RUBS vs submetering: which fits Las Cruces?

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.

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Common questions

RUBS billing in Las Cruces

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 Las Cruces 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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