Rep. Brennan Raises Concerns Over Submetering Claims in Nationwide Energy Partners Announcement

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D–Parma) today raised concerns about a new announcement from Columbus-based utility Nationwide Energy Partners (NEP) touting a new product that it says can save renters approximately $200 per year (or $17 a month) through energy-efficiency technology and predictive maintenance.

Rep. Brennan supports efforts to make homes more energy efficient and reduce utility costs for Ohio families but cautioned that energy-efficiency technology should not be conflated with submetering.

“If a technology can identify a malfunctioning air conditioner or heat pump, reduce unnecessary energy consumption and save a renter money, that’s a good thing,” said Rep. Brennan. “But renters shouldn’t have to give up transparency or consumer protections to achieve those savings. We should be able to understand exactly what they are being charged for, who is charging them, and whether they are paying more than the actual cost of the utility service”

NEP’s announcement specifically identifies submetering services among the company’s business offerings. Rep. Brennan has been a vocal opponent of submetering practices that could leave renters with inadequate information about their utility charges and too few protections when something goes wrong. This NEP announcement demonstrates why Ohio needs stronger consumer protections surrounding submetering.

“We should absolutely embrace technology that makes homes more energy efficient. But energy efficiency and submetering are not the same thing,” Rep. Brennan added. “If a company can save renters $200 a year by making their homes more efficient, I welcome that. But that doesn’t change that renters deserve to know exactly how those savings are calculated, exactly what they are being charged, and exactly who is profiting from their utility payments.”

Rep. Brennan recently opposed legislation that he said would have failed to provide adequate protections for Ohio renters dealing with submetering companies. He has advocated for greater transparency in utility billing (HB 158) and stronger protections for consumers who do not have the ability to choose their utility provider (HB 265).

“My goal is simple: lower utility bills for Ohioans without creating another layer of middlemen, hidden charges, or confusion for consumers,” Rep. Brennan concluded. “Saving renters money should never come at the expense of consumer protection.”