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Guide Ohio (OH)

Ohio utility billing and RUBS: what landlords should know

By MeterEase · Updated

Ohio has no statute we found that sets a RUBS method. Ohio Supreme Court cases apply the “Shroyer test” to decide when a landlord reselling utilities to tenants is regulated as a public utility, and R.C. 5321.04 requires landlords to supply running water. Check your lease and local rules before billing by formula.

What the Ohio sources say

  • R.C. 5321.04(A)(6) requires landlords to supply running water, reasonable hot water and reasonable heat, with limited exceptions, such as where heat or hot water comes from equipment in the tenant’s exclusive control on a direct utility connection.
  • In Pledger v. Public Utilities Commission (2006), the Ohio Supreme Court applied the Shroyer test to a landlord reselling utilities to tenants.
  • In 2026 the Ohio Supreme Court held a third-party submetering company to be a public utility for electricity (Ohio Power Co. v. Nationwide Energy Partners).
  • We did not find an Ohio statute that sets RUBS methods or disclosures.

Each point links to its source at the bottom of this page. Rules change, and cities, counties and utilities can add their own. Read the source before you rely on it.

Where the sources are thin

Ohio sources are thin for RUBS. The law we found comes from court cases on utility resale, not a statute on allocation. Check your lease and local rules.

Common lease and disclosure practices

  • State in the lease which utilities the tenant pays and how the share is set.
  • Keep the total at or below the master bill.
  • Check your lease and local rules.

Electricity and gas

Electric resale has drawn Ohio Supreme Court and PUCO attention. Check with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio before billing tenants for electricity.

How to split it fairly

Where a formula split is allowed, pick one method, put it in the lease, and use it every month. Water tends to follow the number of people, so occupants or a blend of occupants and square footage is common. Trash is usually split equally per unit. Take common-area use out first if your rules call for it, and never bill tenants more in total than the master bill plus any fee your rules allow.

Not legal advice. This page summarizes public sources in plain English as of the date above. It is not legal advice and does not mean any billing method complies with the law for your property. Check your lease and local rules, and talk to a Ohio attorney if you are unsure.

Other states

Run this split every month without the spreadsheet

MeterEase reads the master bill PDF, applies your method and vacancy rule, and emails each tenant their share with the source bill attached, after you check the numbers. Plans start at $14/month.

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Questions

Can Ohio landlords bill tenants for water by formula?

We did not find an Ohio statute that addresses it. Check your lease and local rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

What is the Shroyer test?

A test the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Supreme Court use to decide whether a landlord reselling utilities to tenants is acting as a public utility. See Pledger v. PUCO (2006).

Do Ohio landlords have to supply water?

R.C. 5321.04(A)(6) requires landlords to supply running water, reasonable hot water and heat, with limited exceptions.

Related guides

Sources

Example numbers on this page are made up to show the math. This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules differ by state, city and utility.