Before signing the lease for your new apartment, it is important to understand the monthly costs for your utility services. The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, your residential utility consumer advocate, has many resources to help you understand utility service, how to read your bill, how to handle door-to-door solicitors, respond to marketing offers, and even show you ways to save money.
- Setting up service
- Know simple ways to save money
- Understand what you’re paying
- Look out for submetering
- Understand your energy choices
- Contact the OCC
Setting up service
Refer to your rental agreement to learn who is responsible for setting up utility service. Is utility service the landlord’s responsibility or yours?
If you are responsible for establishing the utility service, your utility will likely want to check your financial responsibility and may run a credit check. If you do not have a sufficient credit history, or if you have had your utility service disconnected for nonpayment, you may be required to pay a deposit to establish new service.
Once you have reviewed the lease and determined who is responsible for the utility services, you should familiarize yourself with common utility issues and read our tips for renters.
Utility Service for Tenants (Submetering)
Tenants should understand how they will receive and pay for utility services before signing a lease agreement.
Electric Bill Made Easy
It is important that you read your bill each month, look for any unusual charges, and keep track of your normal electricity usage.
Natural Gas Bill Made Easy
It is important to read your bill each month, look for any unusual charges, and keep track of your normal natural gas usage.
Telephone Service Options Available to Consumers
Technology has created more communication options available.
Know simple ways to save money
There are simple, low-cost ways renters can save money. A common energy-wasting culprit is standby power, also known as “vampire power,” and according to ENERGY STAR the average U.S. household spends $165 on devices using vampire power. Many common household electronics, like microwaves, televisions and phone chargers, are using power while they are plugged in but not in use. The average home has 25 electronic devices, and their combined vampire power usage can be surprising. Our fact sheets have information about the power used by devices in standby mode and other tips to save you energy and money.
How to Shop for Lightbulbs
This simplifies the information to help you choose the best bulb to meet your needs.
What's draining your energy? Vampire Power
The average household spends $100 every year on vampire power.
Understand what you’re paying
Read your bill every month, and make sure you understand the charges. Some Ohio utility consumers have reported their natural gas or electric supplier was switched without their consent (illegally) or “slammed” by energy marketers. Unauthorized charges are also sometimes “crammed” onto bills. If you don’t understand the charges or recognize a supplier on your bill, you may be paying for services you didn’t authorize.
Use our fact sheets for an explanation of common billing charges. If you still have questions , call your utility company.
Pay your bill as soon as possible to avoid late fees or missing a payment. For the convenience of online or over-the-phone payments, a consumer may be charged a fee each time a payment is made. Before using these methods to pay your bill, check if any charges apply for the service.
Electric Bill Made Easy
It is important that you read your bill each month, look for any unusual charges, and keep track of your normal electricity usage.
How to Avoid Utility-Related Scams and Fraud
Common utility-related scams, how to avoid being scammed, and where to report it.
Natural Gas Bill Made Easy
It is important to read your bill each month, look for any unusual charges, and keep track of your normal natural gas usage.
Telephone Bill Made Easy
You receive and pay your telephone bill every month, but do you know what the charges on your bill mean?
Look out for submetering
Some Ohio residents in new apartments or condominiums are not receiving bills from the local utility distribution company. Instead, they are receiving bills from a third-party, submetering company. Submetering companies place a meter in each unit in a housing complex and record each unit’s usage individually. However, some submetering companies have overcharged consumers up to 40 percent.
Before signing the lease, check for utility-related information. If your service is submetered or you suspect it may be submetered, research the utility company with the Better Business Bureau, talk to your landlord and speak with current residents to so you understand what you are being charged.
Laws protecting consumers from excessive overcharging are being considered. Until such laws are in place, you must be cautious.
Submetering (reselling of utility services) and proposed legislation
A submeter allows an apartment owner or other company to purchase utility service (electric and water) and then resell that service to tenants.
Utility Service for Tenants (Submetering)
Tenants should understand how they will receive and pay for utility services before signing a lease agreement.
Understand your energy choices
Ohioans have an energy choice to make: who will supply my electricity and natural gas? It is very common for energy marketers to solicit renters by phone, by mail, online, or door-to-door. However, you are under no obligation to select an energy marketer. There is no guarantee you will save money by switching to an energy marketer even if one tells you that you will. Some local governments offer energy aggregation that may offer savings. However, don’t feel pressured by solicitors to switch suppliers. It is also strongly recommended that you do not show your utility bills or give out account numbers to solicitors. Understand your energy choices with our fact sheets.
Energy Choice: Know Your Rights!
Ohio law clearly defines rules and codes of conduct marketers must follow.
How to Spot a Bad Apple
A bad deal with a natural gas or electric marketer could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. There are some “bad apples” to avoid!
The Basics of Governmental Aggregation
Learn more about how government aggregation of energy works in Ohio.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about a utility service that is resold to you by a middleman company (also known as submetering), we are currently directing customers to the Ohio Attorney General at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families/Consumers/File-A-Complaint.aspx or at 1-800-282-0515 (toll free in Ohio) or (614) 466-4986 (local).
If you have an issue with your utility service, please contact the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) via their online complaint form. Complaints and questions may also be handled over the phone at 1-800-686-7826, or write to the PUCO at:
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
ATTN: CSD
7th Floor
180 E. Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3793
For complaints about non-utility matters, contact the Ohio Attorney General at 1-800-282-0515.
- Other resources for renters
- Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio – COHHIO is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to ending homelessness and to promoting decent, safe, fair, affordable housing for all, with a focus on assisting low-income and special needs populations.
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio – The PUCO accepts utility service complaints. They have information about establishing utility service, rate plans and how the PUCO works for you.
- Ohio Attorney General – For complaints about non-utility matters, or call 1-800-282-0515.
- Ohio Consumer Protection – A complete listing of Ohio resources and agencies for consumer protection, including links to submit complaints.
- Ohio Department of Insurance – Learn more about renters insurance.
- Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation – Find an attorney or self-help legal materials.
- Ohio Legal Help - Resources for Ohioans in need of legal assistance for a variety of reasons, including housing, families, debt, court appearances, public benefits, seniors, traffic, utilities, scams, ID theft and consumer fraud.
- Ohio Landlord/Tenant Law: Tenant Resources – Franklin County Law Library.
- ORC 5321 Landlord and tenants – The Ohio Revised Code chapter about landlord and tenant laws.
- ORC 5323 Residential Rental Property – The Ohio Revised Code chapter about renting laws.
- HUD in Ohio - Find complete listings of resources for renting in Ohio from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- HUD Complaints – File a housing complaint about a variety of issues at HUD’s online complaint form.
- HUD Rental Help: Ohio – Find resources if you need help paying rent.
- HUD Public Housing Agency Websites: Ohio – Find a housing agency in your area.
- HUD Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections: Ohio – Know your responsibilities as a tenant.
- Ohio's Legal Aids
- Akron/Canton/Youngstown – Community Legal Aid
- Cleveland – Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
- Cincinnati – Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
- Columbus – Legal Aid Society of Columbus
- Dayton – Legal Aid of Western Ohio
- Southeast Ohio – Southeastern Ohio Legal Services
- Toledo – Toledo Legal Aid Society
- Contact your school
There are resources to help students who are moving off-campus, commuting or graduating. Visit your college or university’s website for information about housing and events. This list is only a sample of housing offices from Ohio colleges and universities. For more information, contact your higher education institution.
Institution Office University of Akron Off-Campus Living Bowling Green State University Off-Campus Student Services Case Western Reserve University Division of Student Affairs University of Cincinnati Division of Student Affairs, Office of the Provost Cleveland State University Department of Student Life University of Dayton Office of Student Development John Carroll University Office of Residence Life Kent State University Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization Miami University Off-Campus Outreach, Division of Student Affairs Ohio University Division of Student Affairs The Ohio State University Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services University of Toledo Commuter Student Services Wright State University Student Support Services Xavier University Commuter Services and Off Campus Living Youngstown State University Housing and Residence Life
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