In most cases, utilities in residential parks are not included in the site rent. These are generally paid for separately by the home owner to the park owner. Park owners cannot charge more for the supply of a utility to residents than the actual cost charged to the park owner by their supply authority.
In the case of electricity supply, only the actual cost of the electricity is passed on to the home owner and no extra fees or charges can be added to your electricity bill this includes charging a fee to read the meter.
Park owners who charge in excess of the cost of their supplied electricity may be in breach of the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 (PDF) and penalties may apply.
Park owners may include a component cost in the site rent to cover the cost of providing electricity and maintaining the electricity network or other infrastructure charges. This should be explained in your site agreement.
Because of the way that electricity is supplied to, and within, residential parks, you may not be able to utilise the benefits of solar power. Seek advice from the park owner and a lawyer to ensure you are aware of the parks capacity to handle solar power.
Electricity Charging In Residential Parks
The implementation of the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Amendment Act 2010 and its associated legislative changes to the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 on 1 March 2011, introduced a new section 99A – cost of utility supply.
The policy intent of section 99A is to prevent park owners from charging more for the supply of electricity to residents than the actual cost charged to the park owner by the retailer.
As a guide, the market contract for the bulk supply of electricity with your retailer will be a competitive price lower than the notified price (Gazetted Tariff 11 – Domestic). Section 99A requires that this lower, actual price is passed on to the home owner.
In calculating electricity charges for electricity consumed by individual home owners during a billing period, the consumption rate used should therefore be a lower per kilowatt hour amount than that of the notified price. For instance, if the adjusted rate you purchase electricity for is 19.00 cents per kilowatt hour, this is the rate used to charge home owners, not the notified price of 26.73 cents per kilowatt hour (GST inclusive).
It has been discovered some park owners are adding meter read fees, account fees, infrastructure and administrative charges in excess of the actual cost of supplying the electricity to residents. The policy intent of section 99A of the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act is to prevent the imposition of these kinds of charges.
The site rent charged to home owners may include a component to cover the legitimate costs of providing utility infrastructure within the park. Should a park owner need to increase and/or adjust the amount of site rent to cover the costs outside the terms of the Site Agreement, they may do so following the procedures outlined in the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act.
If you require any further information or assistance in relation to this issue, please contact the Residential Services Unit on (07) 3008 3450 or write to GPO Box 690, Brisbane QLD 4001, or email residentialservices@hpw.qld.gov.au.
