Ohio Renters Face Unexpectedly High Utility Bills Due to Submetering
Ohio renters are increasingly receiving shockingly high utility bills from companies that resell electricity, water, and other services – a practice known as submetering. These companies operate in a regulatory gray area, leaving customers with fewer protections than those billed directly by public utilities, according to a report by the Columbus Dispatch.
Andrea Feagin of Columbus thought she had planned carefully before moving into her own apartment. She budgeted diligently and found a unit she could afford. However, she was unprepared for a $493.35 utility bill during her first winter, covering usage from January 15, 2025, to February 15, 2025. The bill claimed she used 2,206.77 kilowatt-hours of electricity, more than double the average American household’s monthly consumption of 899 kilowatt-hours, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Feagin’s bills from Nationwide Energy Partners steadily climbed from around $100 to as high as $500 for her one-bedroom, 900-square-foot apartment in the Brewery District. She was forced to dip into her savings each month just to cover the costs. After seeing a flier encouraging residents to file complaints with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office or the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Feagin promptly filed a complaint.
In 2025, at least 13 people filed complaints with the Ohio Attorney General against Columbus-based Nationwide Energy Partners. Records obtained by The Dispatch show that at least 555 complaints were filed with the PUCO, with Nationwide Energy Partners and American Power & Light receiving the most complaints.
Fred Rice, owner of Spectrum Submetering and board chairman of the Utility Management and Conservation Association, acknowledged that some companies within the submetering industry have engaged in questionable practices. He stated that one Columbus-based submeterer was denied membership to his trade group due to its practices, though he declined to name the company.
Rice explained that while legitimate submetering companies profit from equipment installation, meter readings, and billing fees, others have exploited the lack of regulation by passing on costs associated with infrastructure – such as equipment, power lines, and transformers – directly to tenants. If regulated like public utilities, these charges would require PUCO approval.
Nationwide Energy Partners stated that, since 2023, it has been billing residents the same or lower rates than those served directly by public utilities, as permitted by the state. However, Feagin questioned the accuracy of her meter readings, noting her diligent efforts to conserve energy.
The issue extends beyond inflated bills. Some customers have reported having their electricity or water shut off by submetering companies, even during moratoriums when public utilities are prohibited from doing so. Mark Whitt, an attorney in a submetered property, reported that Nationwide Energy Partners disconnected his electricity during such a moratorium.
Approximately 30,000 Ohioans are estimated to pay utilities to a submeter, a practice particularly prevalent in central Ohio, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
The PUCO currently lacks oversight authority over submetering companies, as they are not classified as public utilities. This loophole deprives submetered customers of protections enjoyed by those billed directly by utilities, including the ability to shop for electricity, protection from winter disconnections, and access to income-based payment plans.
Some apartment complex owners are also owners of the submetering companies that bill their tenants, creating a potential conflict of interest, according to Deputy Consumers’ Counsel Angela O’Brien. Nationwide Energy Partners, for example, was founded by the CEO of Lifestyle Communities, a large apartment owner in the Columbus area.
O’Brien characterized the situation as creating “millions of second-class utility customers” and argued that renters should have the same rights as those served by regulated utilities.
Legislative efforts are underway to address the issue. Representatives Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, and Sean Patrick Brennan, D-Parma, have introduced House Bill 265, which would define submetering companies as public utilities and subject them to PUCO regulation. Another bill, House Bill 173, sponsored by Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, would require submetering companies to register with the PUCO, establish a complaint process, and prevent them from charging tenants more than the standard cost of service and fees.
Meanwhile, Columbus City Council has taken local action, passing legislation in December that prohibits submetering companies from charging tenants more than the utility provider charges, caps administrative fees at $8 per billing cycle, limits late fees, and requires payment plan options. The ordinance carries a potential fine of $150 per day for violations.
Feagin and her boyfriend, Daquan Curry, have since moved into a larger apartment in the same complex, but continue to be puzzled by their relatively lower utility bills. Despite the changes, they plan to find housing not subject to submetering when their lease expires, hoping to avoid the financial strain and uncertainty they have experienced.
