Submetering in Ohio
Last reviewed by NES Editorial · September 2026
Ohio has no submetering statute of its own, and a recent court ruling changed how electricity can be billed. Here is the current picture for owners.
Submetering is common across Ohio, and NES runs it end to end. We install nonproprietary meters that you own, read them every day, pay the master-meter bill, and bill your residents. Our compliance team tracks the Ohio rules, set by the PUCO, so your billing holds up if anyone ever checks it. NES has worked this way since 1968, in more than 43 states.
Yes. Submetering is allowed in Ohio, with some restrictions.
It is overseen by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and NES handles the requirements for you.
What submetering is
Submetering puts a meter on each unit and bills residents for the water, gas, and electric they actually use. The idea has been around since the 1920s. Today’s meters read wirelessly every day, so usage is accurate and leaks show up fast instead of on the next bill.
Why owners in Ohio submeter
- Residents pay for what they use, so water consumption usually drops 15 to 30%.
- Leaks are caught within a day, not at the end of the month.
- Common-area usage is measured and billed accurately, not absorbed by the owner.
- Most installs pay for themselves within 12 to 18 months.
Submetering laws and rules in Ohio
- Ohio has no statute that squarely addresses residential submetering, so water and electric submetering are in wide use, with residents billed for their measured usage
- 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 regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)
- PUCO is still working out what that ruling requires of submetering companies, and a bill that would have replaced it was vetoed in June 2026
- NES bills residents at the utility's own rate with no markup on the energy
- Bills should clearly show the charges and meter readings, and common-area usage is handled separately
- NES tracks the current PUCO requirements so your property stays compliant
Local rules can vary by city and county, and some cities set their own requirements, which NES verifies for your exact address.
Official sources: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio · Ohio Power Co. v. Nationwide Energy Partners, 2026-Ohio-1406 · Governor's veto of HB 173 (June 24, 2026) · Ohio Consumers' Counsel: Submetering · Cleveland Codified Ordinances 375.05
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the PUCO or a qualified attorney.
NES submetering by city in Ohio
Local submetering guides for Ohio communities NES serves.
Submetering in Ohio
See what your Ohio property can recover.
Send us your master-meter bills and unit count. We’ll run the numbers on your actual property and reply within one business day with a clear, no-obligation estimate.