Mobile home utilities and submetering in Louisiana

Louisiana has no mobile-home-specific utility or submetering statute. Utility billing in a park is governed by the written lease and, for regulated utilities, by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, while the Civil Code sets the lessor's general duty to maintain the leased thing. This page compiles that law. For a specific bill, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Louisiana.

What the statute says

The general lease obligation is in Louisiana Civil Code art. 2682:

The lessor is bound: (1) To deliver the thing to the lessee; (2) To maintain the thing in a condition suitable for the purpose of which it was leased; and (3) To protect the lessee's peaceful possession for the duration of the lease.

There is no statute setting mobile-home utility-billing rules, a submetering cap, or a markup limit; those terms come from the written lease, and regulated utilities are overseen by the Public Service Commission.

How it works in general

The lessor's Civil Code duty is to keep the leased thing suitable for its purpose, which can reach utility infrastructure the lessor supplies, but the lease defines how utilities are metered and billed. Because there is no mobile-home submetering statute, the key questions are what the lease says and, for a regulated utility, what the Public Service Commission allows. A resident who believes a charge is improper looks first to the lease terms and the utility's tariff.

Common scenarios

General examples Louisiana park residents commonly encounter:

• A utility charge is questioned. The written lease and, for a regulated utility, the Public Service Commission's rules are the reference points.
• A utility facility the park supplies breaks down. The lessor's Civil Code art. 2682 duty to maintain the thing suitable for its purpose can apply.
• A resident expects a submetering cap. Louisiana has no mobile-home submetering statute; the lease controls.

Other authorities that may apply

The Louisiana Public Service Commission regulates utilities and their rates. The Civil Code lease articles (including art. 2682) set the lessor's general duties, and the written lease sets the utility-billing terms. Federal law can apply in particular situations.