Plasmon based sensors are excellent tools for a label free detection of small biomolecules. An interesting group of such sensors are plasmonic nanorulers which relay on the plasmon hybridization upon modification of their morphology in order to sense nanoscale distances. Sensor geometries based on interaction of plasmons in a flat metallic layer together with metal nanoparticles inherit unique advantages, but need a special optical excitation configuration not easily to miniaturize. Herein we introduce the concept of nanoruler excitation by direct, electrically induced generation of surface plasmons based on the quantum shot noise of tunneling current. An electron tunneling junction consisting of metal-dielectric-semiconductor hetero-structure is directly incorporated within the nanoruler basic geometry. By applying voltage on this modified nanoruler, the plasmon modes are directly excited without any additional optical component as a light source. We demonstrate by several experiments that this electrically driven nanoruler possesses similar properties as an optically exited one and confirm its sensing capabilities by the detection of the binding of small biomolecules such as antibodies. This new sensing principle could open the way to a new platform of highly miniaturized, integrated plasmonic sensors compatible to monolithic integrated circuits.