BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 196
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 17, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON UTILITIES AND COMMERCE
Steven Bradford, Chair
SB 196 (Cannella) - As Amended: April 23, 2013
SENATE VOTE : 34-0
SUBJECT : Utility rates: mobilehomes and apartment buildings
SUMMARY : Modifies various code sections to authorize
mobilehome park management to either post the Internet website
address where the utility's rate information is published or
post the prevailing rate schedule, as is currently required.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires a master-meter customer in a mobilehome park or
apartment building, among other duties, to post in a
conspicuous place, the prevailing residential utilities rate
schedule as published by the serving utility. (Public
Utilities Code �739.5)
2)Specifies the management shall not acquire a lien or security
interest, other than an interest arising by reason of process
issued to enforce a judgment of any court, in a mobilehome
located in the park unless it is mutually agreed upon by both
the homeowner and management. Any billing and payment upon the
obligation shall be kept separate from current rent. (Civil
Code �798.40)
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "SB 196 updates mobile home
park law by giving management the option to post the Internet
address where park residents could obtain the serving utility
company's rate schedule, as an alternative to posting the
lengthy rate schedules."
1)Background : Over 2,000 mobilehome park owners in the state
provide electricity to their
tenants through a master meter. In such cases, the park owner
receives electricity from the utility at a master meter. The
electricity is then distributed to tenants through
infrastructure owned by the park owner and a sub-meter located
SB 196
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at each tenant's mobilehome. The tenants are then billed by the
park owner for the electricity they use in the same way that a
utility would if the tenant was being directly served by a
utility.
2)Utility rate posting requirements : According to the author,
rate sheets from the serving
utilities have become voluminous and cumbersome for park
management to post, but rarely sought out and viewed by park
residents. In addition, when changes are made to the prevailing
rates, park management often receives the new rate schedule, as
an alternative to posting the lengthy rate schedules.
SB 196 authorizes park management to either post the Internet
website address where the utility's rate information is
published or continue to post the prevailing rate schedule as
currently required by law. For those park residents who do not
have access or subscribe to Internet services, the current rate
sheets will still be able to request a copy from park
management.
1)Clarifying amendment: This committee may wish to consider an
amendment to clarify the
author's intent to publish the specific current rate schedule
for residents to access as follows:
Civil Code �798.40
(a) Where the management provides both master-meter and submeter
service of utilities to a homeowner, for each billing period the
cost of the charges for the period shall be separately stated
along with the opening and closing readings for his or her
meter. The management shall post in a conspicuous place, the
prevailing specific current utility residential utilities rate
schedule as published by the serving utility or the Internet Web
site address where the information is posted serving utility or
the Internet Web site address where the homeowner may access the
of the specific current utility rate schedule. If the management
elects to post the Internet Web site address where the schedule
may be accessed, the management shall also: (1) provide a copy
of the prevailing specific current residential utilities utility
rate schedule, upon request, at no cost; and (2) state in the
posting that a homeowner may request a copy of the rate schedule
from management.
Public Utilities Code �739.5 (e)
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(e) Every master-meter customer shall provide an itemized
billing of charges for electricity or gas, or both, to each
individual user generally in accordance with the form and
content of bills of the corporation to its residential
customers, including, but not limited to, the opening and
closing readings for the meter, and the identification of all
rates and quantities attributable to each block in the
applicable rate structure. The master-meter customer shall also
post, in a conspicuous place, the applicable prevailing specific
current utility residential gas or electrical rate schedule, as
published by the corporation, or the Internet Web site address
where the corporation posts that information corporation, or the
corporation's Internet Web site address where the individual
user may access the schedule of the specific current rate
schedule. If the master-meter customer elects to post the
Internet Web site address where the schedule may be accessed,
the master-meter customer shall also: (1) provide a copy of the
prevailing specific current residential gas or electrical rate
schedule, upon request, at no cost; and (2) state in the posting
that an individual user may request a copy of the rate schedule
from the master-meter customer.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Apartment Association (CAA)
Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association (WMA)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083