RUBS Utility Billing

Shared Utility Billing with RUBS

Starting with their November, 2026 rent statement, every Downtownian.com resident will have their shared building utilities billed the same simple, fair, and predictable way: RUBS. Whether you signed your lease last week or several years ago, this page explains what RUBS is, how your bill is figured, and why we think you are going to like it.

The Short Version

• What: RUBS stands for Ratio Utility Billing System. It is the method Maryland now requires for splitting shared (master-metered) building utilities among residents.
• When: Everyone, on both new and older leases, will be billed using RUBS beginning November 1, 2026.
• How it works: The building's actual utility invoice is divided equally among all of the units in the building. One unit, one equal share.
• Cost to you for the system: $0.00 in administrative or processing fees. We do not charge a penny to run it.
• Bonus: If you are on an older lease, you can ask us to switch your past bills to RUBS too, all the way back to July 1, 2025. See below.

What Is RUBS?

In every Downtownian.com building, some utilities are shared by everyone who lives there. Water is a common example, and so is the power for shared-use areas like hallways and stairwells. In some buildings, the entire heating system is shared, and a few buildings have just one shared electric meter for the whole building. Each of these shared utilities arrives as one bill, and the cost has to be divided among the residents who benefit from it.

RUBS (Ratio Utility Billing System) is a standardized way to share those bills. Under RUBS, the utilities covered are:

• Water
• Sewer
• Water Infrastructure
• Gas
• Electricity

(RUBS applies to utilities that are master-metered or shared across the building. If your apartment has its own individual meter, such as a BGE account in your personal name, you will keep paying that provider directly, just as you do now. Those charges are separate from, and in addition to, the shared utility amounts we bill you.)

How Your Share Is Calculated

It couldn't be easier!

1. We take the actual total building invoice for the utility.
2. We divide it by the total number of units in the building.
3. Every unit pays one equal share.

That is it! No bedroom counts, no head counts, no changing formulas.

Example: Say your building has 8 units and the water bill for the month is $600. Each unit's share is $600 / 8 = $75. Whether you live alone in a one-bedroom or share a larger place with roommates, your share of that bill is $75.

(This is just an example to show the math. Your actual bills will depend on your building's actual invoices.)

Why RUBS Is Better

Here is why we are excited about this change:

Simple and easy to understand

One invoice, divided equally by the number of units. You can check the math yourself in about ten seconds.

Predictable

Because every unit gets the same share, there are no surprises from changes in who is living where or how many people are on a lease.

No extra fees

We charge $0.00 in administrative or processing fees for operating RUBS. You pay your share of the actual utility bill and nothing more.

Less guesswork for everyone

The older approach relied on formulas and averages that were harder to follow and less accurate. RUBS replaces all of that with one clear rule.

Switching Your Past Bills to RUBS

If you are on an older lease and would like your historical bills recalculated using RUBS, we would be happy to do it! We will retroactively switch your account back to July 1, 2025.

How to ask:

1. Log in to your account at Downtownian.com.
2. Submit a service request asking to switch your historical utility billings to RUBS.
3. That's it! We will take care of the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my bill be the same every month?

Not necessarily. RUBS divides the building's actual invoice equally, so your share will rise and fall a little with the building's total usage and utility rates. The historical monthly average listed in a new lease gives you a good idea of what to expect.

Does the number of people in my apartment change my share?

No. Each unit is allocated one equal share, no matter how many occupants live there.

Do I still need my own BGE account?

If your apartment is individually metered, yes. Keep your own accounts active throughout your tenancy, as your lease requires. RUBS only covers the shared, master-metered utilities, and is in addition to whatever the utility company bills you directly.

Is there a fee for RUBS?

No. We charge $0.00 in administrative or processing fees for operating the system.

Does this change my lease?

No. If you are on an older lease that does not mention RUBS, no need to worry - your lease stays in place. The change is in how shared utilities are calculated and billed starting November 1, 2026. If you have questions about your own lease, log in to your account at Downtownian.com.

I have a question about a bill. Who do I ask?

Send us a message through your Downtownian.com account. We are always happy to help!