Overview
Mobilehome park or manufactured housing community (MHP) owners in Southwest Gas Corporation’s (Southwest Gas) service territories may be eligible to participate in the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program (MHP Program).
This voluntary program was originally approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2014 as a three-year pilot; however, earlier this year, the CPUC determined that the pilot was successful and extended the MHP Program through 2030.
The MHP Program affords MHP owners the opportunity to convert their privately-owned master- metered utility distribution systems to direct service. Upon conversion, MHP residents will receive natural gas and/or electric service directly from the utility companies.
The CPUC has authorized the State’s smaller natural gas and electric utilities to convert 100% of their total MHP spaces through the MHP Program. Eligible MHP spaces within an MHP are only those permitted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
MOBILEHOME PARK UTILITY CONVERSION PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
Overview
Mobilehome park or manufactured housing community (MHP) owners in Southwest Gas Corporation’s (Southwest Gas) service territories may be eligible to participate in the Mobilehome Park Utility Conversion Program (MHP Program).
This voluntary program was originally approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2014 as a three-year pilot; however, earlier this year, the CPUC determined that the pilot was successful and extended the MHP Program through 2030.
The MHP Program affords MHP owners the opportunity to convert their privately-owned master- metered utility distribution systems to direct service. Upon conversion, MHP residents will receive natural gas and/or electric service directly from the utility companies.
The CPUC has authorized the State’s smaller natural gas and electric utilities to convert 100% of their total MHP spaces through the MHP Program. Eligible MHP spaces within an MHP are only those permitted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
For participating MHP owners, the benefits of converting to direct natural gas service include:
Enhanced safety and reliability - MHP owners will get new, professionally installed natural gas systems that will enhance safety and reliability.
Provides peace of mind - Once the master-metered/submetered system is converted, it will alleviate the majority of the operating and maintenance responsibilities traditionally handled by MHP owners/operators. Southwest Gas will provide these services.
Saves time and less hassle - MHP owners will no longer have to read natural gas meters, bill their residents, or respond to natural gas service and utility program questions. Southwest Gas will provide these services.
Cost-effective - A majority of the costs associated with converting the master-metered/submetered system are covered by the Program.
Applications will be prioritized by the CPUC’s Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) based on risk assessment and other established prioritization factors. The SED will focus primarily on gas safety and secondarily on system reliability and/or capacity. SED will consult with the Department of Housing and Community Development to assess electrical systems.
Southwest Gas will receive a list of prioritized MHPs and will then pre-select MHPs for conversion based on prioritization status, the annual number of spaces Southwest Gas is authorized to convert, and other relevant factors (available resources, coordination with other entities, etc.).
If your MHP is pre-selected, you will be asked for more detailed information about your property so Southwest Gas may begin the engineering and planning process for installing Southwest Gas’ new gas distribution system within the MHP. Southwest Gas will work with you to plan the new natural gas distribution system and convert MHP spaces to direct utility service. In addition, an assigned Southwest Gas project manager will serve as the MHP owner's direct point of contact. The project manager will assist owners with various aspects of the construction project, i.e., completing a detailed application, arranging onsite meetings, construction project management, communications with MHP residents, general construction permitting, and answering questions.
Once your MHP is accepted into the MHP Program, construction will begin. With any construction project, there will be a temporary level of inconvenience that is difficult to determine until planning takes place. Owners and residents should expect that to install underground facilities, trenching will be required and it may be necessary to close off parts of the MHP to access while work is being completed. Noise, material/tools staging areas, and construction crew presence can also be expected.
Southwest Gas will receive a list of prioritized MHPs and will then pre-select MHPs for conversion based on prioritization status, the annual number of spaces Southwest Gas is authorized to convert, and other relevant factors (available resources, coordination with other entities, etc.).
If your MHP is pre-selected, you will be asked for more detailed information about your property so Southwest Gas may begin the engineering and planning process for installing Southwest Gas’ new gas distribution system within the MHP. Southwest Gas will work with you to plan the new natural gas distribution system and convert MHP spaces to direct utility service. In addition, an assigned Southwest Gas project manager will serve as the MHP owner's direct point of contact. The project manager will assist owners with various aspects of the construction project, i.e., completing a detailed application, arranging onsite meetings, construction project management, communications with MHP residents, general construction permitting, and answering questions.
Once your MHP is accepted into the MHP Program, construction will begin. With any construction project, there will be a temporary level of inconvenience that is difficult to determine until planning takes place. Owners and residents should expect that to install underground facilities, trenching will be required and it may be necessary to close off parts of the MHP to access while work is being completed. Noise, material/tools staging areas, and construction crew presence can also be expected.
Costs for installing new direct natural gas service up to individual resident meters ("To the Meter"), as well as to each mobilehome ("Beyond the Meter"), are covered by the MHP Program.
Southwest Gas will be responsible for performing and paying for construction work to the individual resident meters.
The MHP owner is responsible for selecting a contractor, in consultation with Southwest Gas, to perform the work from the resident meter to the mobilehome. Southwest Gas will reimburse reasonable costs for this construction; however, upfront funding by MHP owners may be required.
Utilities will own, operate and maintain "To the Meter" facilities. MHP owners will own, operate and maintain "Beyond the Meter" facilities.
The master-meter/submetered discount will cease, where applicable.
MHP residents will become customers of Southwest Gas. New customer credit checks, deposits and service establishment fees will be waived for existing MHP residents. In addition, MHP residents currently receiving the CARE Program discount and Additional Medical Baseline allowance will be grandfathered into those programs as they become direct utility customers (subject to other requirements).
The master-meter/submetered discount will cease, where applicable.
MHP residents will become customers of Southwest Gas. New customer credit checks, deposits and service establishment fees will be waived for existing MHP residents. In addition, MHP residents currently receiving the CARE Program discount and Additional Medical Baseline allowance will be grandfathered into those programs as they become direct utility customers (subject to other requirements).
November to December 2021 - CPUC Form of Intent will be made available to MHPs.
January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021 - Program application period is open. Complete the CPUC Form of Intent and mail to the SED as well as to your serving utilities.
April 1, 2021 to May 31, 2021 - SED prioritizes the Program participants.
Beginning July 1, 2021 - Pre-selected MHPs will be contacted to provide detailed MHP system information.
MHP owners must complete the
CPUC Form of Intent
for each of their parks. All CPUC Forms of Intent must be received during the 90-day open application period, which starts on January 1, 2021 and ends on March 31, 2021.
Send your completed CPUC Form of Intent to the SED with a copy to Southwest Gas and your CPUC-regulated electric utility (Southern California Edison, Bear Valley Electric or Liberty Utilities), if applicable.
If you own multiple properties, submit one form each MHP or manufactured housing community.
CPUC Forms of Intent received after March 31, 2021 will be placed on a waiting list.
NOTE: Submission of the CPUC Form of Intent or placement on the waiting list does not guarantee acceptance into the Program or conversion to direct utility service.
Download the CPUC Form of Intent
.
For more information about the Mobilehome Park Utility Upgrade Program, please visit the California Public Utilities Commission at:
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/mhpupgrade/
If you wish to contact Southwest Gas regarding this Program, please email: MHPUtilityUpgrade@swgas.com.
