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New law affects RV utility rates
Comments 0 | Recommend 0A new law, signed by the governor, went into effect a couple of months ago regarding RV parks and what they can charge for utilities. It is A.R.S. 33-2107.
It is well known that most RV parks charge residents (RV or park model owners - winter or full-timers) a large amount for electric, in some cases as much as 15 to 19 cents per kilowatt hour.
This can no longer be done. RV park owners can only charge the same rate that is charged to a "single family residential rate" by Arizona Public Service, which is currently 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour.
The landlord can recover charges imposed on the park such as a service charge, taxes, etc., but it must be prorated to all in the park receiving electric each month and cannot include charges for electric in the common areas of the park, i.e., office, street lights, heating the pool, recreation hall, etc.
The landlord must post on the bulletin board a copy of the park's bill showing these charges. The landlord may charge an administrative fee for the actual charge of processing your bill each month. The landlord must credit you for overcharges on your next bill if it is found you were overcharged.
Visit the Arizona Revised Statutes Web page to read this new law in more detail. Put A.R.S. 33 in your Web search engine and find the page. Scroll down to Chapter 19, and you can read all the statutes for RV parks, including this one, as well as others regarding leases, rental rules and other utilities you may be charged for.
You should tell everyone in your RV park of this new law. All of you take a copy of it to your manager or at least make your manager aware of this law. If they fail to comply with it, you will take appropriate action.
If you don't have a computer, I suggest calling AAMHO (Arizona Association of Mobile Home Owners, which includes RV parks) at 1-800-221-6955. They can answer your questions and refer you to the proper authorities to take civil action or possibly criminal action against your RV park.
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GEORGE MORTON
Yuma
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