05/03/2006
Section 1529.1 of ACT 54 OF 1993 requires the owner of a residential rental multi-dwelling building or mobile home park to be responsible for utility service when the units are "not individually metered."
A residential rental unit is considered "not individually metered" when wiring from other parts of the building, another apartment, or from common use areas and electrical equipment outside of the rental unit is connected to the meter serving that particular rental unit.
A nonresidential unit is considered "not individually metered" when wiring from other residential parts of the building, another apartment, or from residential common use areas and electrical equipment is connected to the meter serving that particular nonresidential rental unit.
This is known as "foreign load." The owner of the property is responsible for the utility service for that meter even if there is a lease or agreement involved.
By law, utilities MUST put the account in the owner's name effective the day they become aware of the "foreign load" when any of these situations occur:
- the utility finds the foreign load as a result of a field investigation, which is usually requested by the tenant ratepayer;
- the owner/landlord informs the utility that the foreign load exists; and
- the utility finds the foreign load as a result of a blocked/unblocked meter