Mobile home utilities in Michigan

Michigan's Mobile Home Commission Act protects residents on utilities by requiring that any billed electric, fuel, or water service be accurately metered, requiring advance notice before a shutoff, and routing water-tariff abuses to the Public Service Commission. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone disputing a specific charge should consider consulting a licensed attorney in Michigan.

What the statute says

The metering rule is in MCL 125.2328(1)(e). It is an unfair or deceptive practice to charge or collect "money or other thing of value for electric, fuel, or water service without the use of that service by a resident or tenant being first accurately and consistently measured, unless that service is included in the rental charge as an incident of tenancy." On shutoffs, MCL 125.2329 requires a utility company to "notify the department 10 days before shutoff of service for nonpayment, including sewer, water, gas, or electric service, when the service is being supplied to the licensed owner or operator of a mobile home park ... for the use and benefit of the park's tenants."

The Act also guards against water-utility abuse: under §125.2328(3), if the commission suspects a park "is engaged in conduct that violates existing water utility tariffs or qualifies the owner ... for regulation as a water utility," it "shall promptly send a written report ... to the Michigan public service commission." And §125.2328(1)(d) bars a park from forcing residents to buy services from a particular provider.

How it works in general

If a Michigan park bills residents for electric, fuel, or water service, it must first measure each resident's actual usage accurately and consistently — a park cannot simply divide a master-metered bill among residents unless utilities are built into the rent. Where a master-metered utility serving the park faces shutoff for the park's nonpayment, the utility must give the state 10 days' notice, which protects tenants from a sudden loss of service for the park owner's default. A park that abuses water billing can be reported to the Public Service Commission. Residents also can't be forced to buy services from a park-chosen vendor.

Common scenarios

General examples Michigan park residents commonly encounter:

• A park splits a single water bill among lots. Billing requires accurate, consistent measurement of each resident's use unless utilities are in the rent (§125.2328(1)(e)).
• The park falls behind on a master utility account. The utility must give 10 days' notice before shutoff (§125.2329).
• A park marks up water heavily. It can be reported to the Public Service Commission (§125.2328(3)).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile Home Commission Act governs metering, shutoff notice, and water-tariff referrals, and a tenant may sue for a violation (§125.2328(2)). The Michigan Public Service Commission regulates utilities and water tariffs, and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy oversees park water and sewage systems. The written lease sets how metered utilities are billed.