Southern California Gas Co. announced Thursday it has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to provide safety and service upgrades to thousands of additional mobile home parks through a 10-year utility conversion program.
The program is voluntary. Participating mobile home communities receive a new, professionally installed gas system, according to SoCalGas.
“Since its inception in 2014, the program has upgraded infrastructure and enhanced safety at more than 16,000 mobile homes in more than 244 mobile home communities throughout SoCalGas’ territory,” according to the utility. “Now, due to the program’s success, the CPUC voted to establish it as a 10-year, ongoing program, authorizing SoCalGas to upgrade up to half of the approximately 132,000 mobile homes in its service territory to direct utility service through 2030.”
Mobile home park residents with direct natural gas service will have advanced meters, which allow customers to have access to their hourly natural gas usage on a next-day basis and enable them to better manage their gas usage and save money.
SoCalGas customers can set up their own “My Account” to view and pay their bill online, schedule service and/or sign up for paperless billing. Income-qualified customers can also benefit from energy savings and assistance programs that can help them save money.
Owners of participating mobile home communities no longer have to maintain or be liable for privately-owned gas systems and instead can contact SoCalGas directly for service needs. Direct service also saves owners time, since they no longer have to read meters, bill residents or respond to service questions, according to SoCalGas.
The program covers costs for installing new utility service at each mobile home community including, individual resident meters.
Nearly 80% of all mobile home communities in SoCalGas’ territory applied to participate in the initial pilot program, according to the utility, which has 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California.
For more information about the mobile home park utility conversion program and how to apply, visit www.socalgas.com/stay-safe/safety-and-prevention/mobilehome-park-utility-upgrade-program.