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Guide Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin utility billing and RUBS: what landlords should know

By MeterEase · Updated

Wisconsin’s rule is about disclosure. Under Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(3), if water, heat or electricity is not included in rent, the landlord says so before the rental agreement or any deposit, and if units and common areas are not separately metered, discloses the basis for allocating the charges. The code does not set a formula.

What the Wisconsin sources say

  • If charges for water, heat or electricity are not included in the rent, the landlord discloses this before entering into a rental agreement or accepting earnest money or a security deposit (ATCP 134.04(3)).
  • If units and common areas are not separately metered and charges are not included in rent, the landlord discloses the basis on which charges will be allocated among units (ATCP 134.04(3)).
  • A landlord may withhold from a security deposit amounts the tenant owes under the rental agreement for utility service provided by the landlord but not included in rent (ATCP 134.06(3)(a)3.).
  • We did not find a Wisconsin rule that sets a RUBS formula or fee cap.

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

Wisconsin’s code requires disclosure of the allocation basis but does not list methods. Check your lease and local rules.

Common lease and disclosure practices

  • Before signing or taking a deposit, disclose in writing which utilities are not in the rent.
  • For shared meters, describe the allocation basis (for example occupants or square footage).
  • Check your city ordinances and your water utility’s rules. Check your lease and local rules.

Electricity and gas

Electricity is covered by the disclosure rule. Check your utility’s terms before billing tenants for it.

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 Wisconsin 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, unless you turn on auto-send for a property. Plans start at $14/month.

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Questions

Is RUBS legal in Wisconsin?

ATCP 134.04(3) assumes landlords may allocate unmetered utility charges, and requires disclosure of the basis before the lease. We did not find a rule setting the formula. This is general information, not legal advice.

When must a Wisconsin landlord disclose utility charges?

Before entering into a rental agreement or accepting any earnest money or security deposit.

Can unpaid utilities come out of the deposit?

ATCP 134.06(3) allows withholding for utility service the landlord provided that the tenant owes under the rental agreement and that was not included in rent.

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.